Perth native Dave Lavery is safe in Qatar after being released by the Taliban, bringing relief to his family and colleagues.
Reaction on our Facebook page has been full of relief, with many expressing happiness that Lavery is now home.
Tim Laidler, Afghan Support Director with the Veterans Transition Network (VTN), told CTV News “We are overjoyed and relieved now.”
Lavery, who was working for VTN, had been helping Afghan migrants reach safety in Canada when he disappeared.
The circumstances of his detention and release remain unclear. Laidler confirmed Lavery had a valid visa and was working on behalf of Canadians. “We were quite shocked that he wasn’t able to leave, wasn’t able to make communication,” Laidler said in his interview with CTV News.
Lavery, who also runs a private security company, Raven Rae Consulting Services, has traveled to Afghanistan multiple times over the years.