Update 2 | Martin Galea released from hospital, back home with family

Martin Galea released from hospital after spending a few hours under observation at Mater Dei Hospital, informed sources say

Martin Galea, the Maltese oil worker abducted in Libya. (Photo: Ray Attard)
Martin Galea, the Maltese oil worker abducted in Libya. (Photo: Ray Attard)
Maltese oil worker Martin Galea returned to Malta safe and sound (Photo: James Galea/MediaToday)
Maltese oil worker Martin Galea returned to Malta safe and sound (Photo: James Galea/MediaToday)
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat welcomes Martin Galea home (Photo: James Galea/MediaToday)
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat welcomes Martin Galea home (Photo: James Galea/MediaToday)
Martin Galea, left, with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat (Source: TVM)
Martin Galea, left, with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat (Source: TVM)
Martin Galea was flown in on a Medavia aircraft
Martin Galea was flown in on a Medavia aircraft
Malta’s consul in Tripoli, Dr Marisa Farrugia, was said by Martin Galea to have 'saved his life'
Malta’s consul in Tripoli, Dr Marisa Farrugia, was said by Martin Galea to have 'saved his life'
Martin Galea returns back home safe and sound • Video by Ray Attard
Relatives of Martin Galea rush to meet him (Photo: Ray Attard)
Relatives of Martin Galea rush to meet him (Photo: Ray Attard)
Relatives of Martin Galea, including his son, rush to meet him (Photo: Ray Attard)
Relatives of Martin Galea, including his son, rush to meet him (Photo: Ray Attard)
Photo: Ray Attard
Photo: Ray Attard
Photo: Ray Attard
Photo: Ray Attard
Maltese consul Marisa Farrugia (Photo: Ray Attard)
Maltese consul Marisa Farrugia (Photo: Ray Attard)
Photo: James Galea
Photo: James Galea
Photo: James Galea
Photo: James Galea
Photo: Ray Attard
Photo: Ray Attard
Photo: Ray Attard
Photo: Ray Attard
Photo: James Galea
Photo: James Galea
Photo: Ray Attard
Photo: Ray Attard
Photo: Ray Attard
Photo: Ray Attard

Maltese oil worker Martin Galea has returned home to his family after spending a few hours under observation at Mater Dei Hospital where he was transferred immediately after landing safely on Maltese soil.

Galea was abducted in Libya 12 days ago and was released yesterday afternoon. He landed in Malta on a Medavia flight safe and sound at around 8.47pm. He was greeted at the Malta International Airport's runway by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, foreign minister George Vella and home affairs minister Manuel Mallia.

Galea spent the night under observation and treatment at Mater Dei hospital and MaltaToday understands that Galea is not yet ready to meet the press. He also needs to be debriefed by the Malta Security Services chief Michael Cassar.

According to official sources, Galea was released from hospital during the night and he is now at home with his family.

“I am happy to be back home safe and sound. But my safe return home didn’t depend on me but on the efforts of the Maltese government and that of consul Marisa Farrugia… she saved my life,” Galea said on the runway at MIA on Monday evening.

The Prime Minister thanked the ministers, the Armed Forces of Malta and the Security Serivce for the collective effort.

“We worked in silence because any declarations or information could have been used against Galea. It was a delicate operation and we didn’t want to risk his life,” Muscat said.

He also thanked the Islamic community in Malta and “friends” in Libya for Galea’s safe return.

Facts surrounding his abductors remain unclear and the Prime Minister was not in a position to say who or which militia rebels abducted Galea. He however confirmed that no ransom was paid.

Galea was released following talks held between government and his captors through “various different Libyan interlocutors.”

Although government has an idea of the Galea’s abduction, “it has to fill in the blanks” following an interview Galea will undergo in the coming hours. 

"No ransom was requested to the Maltese government and no ransom was paid. It could be that at one point a ransom was asked to his employer, but no monies were paid. This information is yet to be established," Muscat told journalists earlier during a media briefing.

News of Galea's arrival to Malta could only be made public once he was safe in Maltese airspace, upon his own request. His family, upon Galea's request, was only informed once he left Libyan ground.

Galea was released by his abductors and arrived at the Maltese consulate at 5:50pm. As soon as the government confirmed his position, a plane with six plain-clothes AFM members left the island and landed at the Mitiga airport at 6:55pm to collect Galea.

Accompanying Galea was Maltese consul Marisa Farrugia who left the airport with him.

"There was a difficulty to leave immediately as Galea was not carrying any personal documents. The issue was resolved within minutes," Muscat said.

Both the Prime Minister and Head of Malta Security Service Michael Cassar were in telephone contact with Galea and spoke to him.
Galea's family was waiting for him when he landed at the MIA. He was then transferred to Mater Dei Hospital for medical check ups. Galea told the Maltese he believed he was suffering from infections but he was not wounded.

Muscat said Galea was traveling with the driver and a foreigner when he was abducted. It is yet to be established whether Galea was the only one who was abducted or whether the driver and the second passenger were briefly held at the roadblock.

In a statement issued this evening, the Nationalist Party greeted Galea’s release as “good news for all the Maltese” and wished the oil worker and his family well. The opposition thanked all those involved in his release. 

The Labour Party also praised government for its pro-activeness and congratulated it for “helping Maltese citizens in Libya return back home, as well as helping people of other nationalities by bringing them to Malta for treatment.”