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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Hostage wife speaks of her relief | Hostage wife speaks of her relief |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| The wife of a kidnapped oil worker who had been feared dead has spoken of her relief following his release. | The wife of a kidnapped oil worker who had been feared dead has spoken of her relief following his release. |
| Paula Smith, whose husband Paul was one of four Scots held hostage in Nigeria, told how she had to explain the conflicting news to their young son. | Paula Smith, whose husband Paul was one of four Scots held hostage in Nigeria, told how she had to explain the conflicting news to their young son. |
| She said she used the analogy of Disney's Lion King to explain the death to four-year-old Jordan but later had to say it had all been lies. | She said she used the analogy of Disney's Lion King to explain the death to four-year-old Jordan but later had to say it had all been lies. |
| Mrs Smith revealed that her husband told her he would be home on Monday. | Mrs Smith revealed that her husband told her he would be home on Monday. |
| Mr Smith, from Peterhead, Graeme Buchan, from Stuartfield, George Mclean, from Elgin and Sandy Cruden, from Inverurie, were released after almost three weeks as hostages on the Niger Delta. | |
| I couldn't believe it. When I heard his voice I said 'Paul, tell me it's you' Paula Smith | I couldn't believe it. When I heard his voice I said 'Paul, tell me it's you' Paula Smith |
| They were kidnapped along with another three oil workers from Romania, Malaysia and Indonesia. | They were kidnapped along with another three oil workers from Romania, Malaysia and Indonesia. |
| At a press conference Mrs Smith, who also has a two-year-old son, said that on Thursday she had been made aware of a telephone conversation in which it was claimed her husband was dead. | At a press conference Mrs Smith, who also has a two-year-old son, said that on Thursday she had been made aware of a telephone conversation in which it was claimed her husband was dead. |
| "It was absolutely horrendous," she said. "We had tried to keep things from the kids but the minute we heard he was dead I had to tell Jordan. | "It was absolutely horrendous," she said. "We had tried to keep things from the kids but the minute we heard he was dead I had to tell Jordan. |
| "I just told him about the Lion King when the dad dies but is up in heaven and that his dad would always be looking down on him. | "I just told him about the Lion King when the dad dies but is up in heaven and that his dad would always be looking down on him. |
| "He just cuddled into me." | "He just cuddled into me." |
| Phone call | Phone call |
| Two days later she received a phone call from her husband. | Two days later she received a phone call from her husband. |
| "I couldn't believe it," she said. "When I heard his voice I said 'Paul, tell me it's you'. He had to keep talking to me. I was hysterical. | "I couldn't believe it," she said. "When I heard his voice I said 'Paul, tell me it's you'. He had to keep talking to me. I was hysterical. |
| "He said 'it's me. Calm down. I've been released'. | "He said 'it's me. Calm down. I've been released'. |
| "I told him I'd been told he was dead and had told the kids and he said 'I'm here and I'm released and I'll be home in two days'. | "I told him I'd been told he was dead and had told the kids and he said 'I'm here and I'm released and I'll be home in two days'. |
| "It was unbelievable. We had been grieving about him in the morning and going over memories. It was unbelievable, unbelievable." | "It was unbelievable. We had been grieving about him in the morning and going over memories. It was unbelievable, unbelievable." |
| Over the last two weeks we have felt worry, grief and finally elation John Smith | Over the last two weeks we have felt worry, grief and finally elation John Smith |
| Mrs Smith said she had answered the phone herself for the first time in two days. | Mrs Smith said she had answered the phone herself for the first time in two days. |
| "I'm so glad it was me," she said. | "I'm so glad it was me," she said. |
| She then had to explain the turnaround of events to Jordan. | She then had to explain the turnaround of events to Jordan. |
| "I had to tell him it was lies, that his dad will be home. How do you tell a four-year-old?" | "I had to tell him it was lies, that his dad will be home. How do you tell a four-year-old?" |
| Mrs Smith added that there was "no way" she would allow her husband to return to Nigeria. | Mrs Smith added that there was "no way" she would allow her husband to return to Nigeria. |
| Mr Smith's father John, said: "Over the last two weeks we have felt worry, grief and finally elation. | Mr Smith's father John, said: "Over the last two weeks we have felt worry, grief and finally elation. |
| "Many people have experienced the first two but it's not often you get the third one in a situation like this and for that we are very thankful." | "Many people have experienced the first two but it's not often you get the third one in a situation like this and for that we are very thankful." |
| In a statement read out by SNP leader Alex Salmond, who represents the Banff and Buchan area, Mr Buchan's wife Lynsey said: "I would like to say how relieved and delighted I am that all the men are released and look forward enormously to their homecoming. | In a statement read out by SNP leader Alex Salmond, who represents the Banff and Buchan area, Mr Buchan's wife Lynsey said: "I would like to say how relieved and delighted I am that all the men are released and look forward enormously to their homecoming. |
| "It's been a very traumatic time for family and friends and everyone is looking forward to seeing Graeme again." | "It's been a very traumatic time for family and friends and everyone is looking forward to seeing Graeme again." |