Lacking American Travis Timmerman discovered wandering barefoot exterior Damascus

DAMASCUS, Syria — An American man who recognized himself as Travis Pete Timmerman was present in a suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus by native residents on Thursday.

Timmerman was final seen in Budapest, Hungary, in early June. On Thursday, he informed reporters in Damascus that he had been on a pilgrimage and was detained earlier this yr after crossing into Syria on foot from Lebanon.

His resurfacing in Damascus ends months of uncertainty and fear for his household.

“That’s what my daughter said, it’s a Christmas miracle,” his mom, Stacey Collins Gardiner, informed NPR.

Locals within the city of al-Thiyabiyah discovered the 29-year-old man as he wandered barefoot on the streets within the early hours of the morning.

In an interview with Arabic TV information channel Al-Arabiya, Timmerman mentioned that he had been held in isolation in a jail cell and that he was launched when opposition forces stormed Damascus and overthrew President Bashar al-Assad. He mentioned he hadn’t been overwhelmed however may hear different individuals being tortured.

Hungarian police launched a lacking particular person’s report for Timmerman after he attended church within the capital, Budapest, seven months in the past.

The Missouri State Freeway Police put out a lacking individuals flyer final yr for a “Pete Timmerman,” which famous he was final positioned in Budapest.

A video circulated earlier Thursday confirmed Timmerman mendacity on a mattress beneath a blanket. A bunch of males surrounding him mentioned he was being handled nicely and could be despatched dwelling safely.

Timmerman acquired a level in finance at Missouri State College in 2017, adopted by a regulation diploma, after which labored in Chicago for a few years, mentioned Gardiner, his mom. 

However then he got here again dwelling, saying he wished to jot down — about nature and particularly his Christian religion. He went to church regularly after returning to their hometown of Urbana, Mo., she mentioned.

Although he did not have a lot cash, Travis went to Budapest to work on his writing and to assist individuals, Gardiner mentioned. He fell out of contact after warning her that his travels may make communication troublesome.

She later discovered he had traveled to Lebanon — and now he is been present in Syria. 

Information retailers began calling Gardiner and her husband round 4:30 a.m. native time, she mentioned. For hours, they remained uncertain if the person present in Syria was really Travis.

“At first, I was hoping it was him, but we didn’t know if it was a scam or what. And then my daughter saw him on the news,” she mentioned. “Not him, but they were talking about Travis. … and I was so surprised. I was so happy, I cried too — happy tears.”

On the time NPR spoke with Gardiner Thursday morning, she mentioned she hadn’t spoken to her son or anybody from the federal government about his obvious discovery in Syria.

She is aware of what she’ll do when she sees him.

“I will hug him. … And then I probably won’t let him go,” she mentioned, laughing. “I’ll say, well, thank God you’re still alive. And I’m so happy. Our prayers came true.”

Thursday’s video at first sparked hypothesis that the person may very well be lacking U.S. journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared in Syria 12 years in the past.

A United States official confirmed that the person within the video was not Tice.

Tice was captured in Syria whereas reporting on the battle there. His dad and mom have led a yearslong combat to free their son and the overthrowing of the Assad regime elevated hope that Tice could also be discovered. Tice’s siblings informed NPR this week that they’ve acquired info that their brother was alive.

Hadeel Al-Shalchi reported from Damascus, Syria; Invoice Chappell reported from Washington, D.C.