An Army veteran from Stockport has been detained in Abu Dhabi after refusing to board a plane over fears there may be a bomb on-board, according to his worried family.
Steve Long's family said they fear for the former North West Ambulance Service paramedic's mental health.
The 39-year-old father-of-four, from Offerton, served tours of Iraq and Bosnia and worked closely with bomb disposal unit. He flew out to the United Arab Emirates to visit a friend for three weeks in January.
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His visit coincided with an apparent terrorist drone strike on the capital Abu Dhabi, in which three people died and six were injured.
Steve has no history of mental health illness, but his family said concerns for him grew following the attack. His sister Clare Carrie, 37, a nurse from Offerton, said the plan was to fly Steve back home, but he was held at Abu Dhabi International airport ahead of his flight then charged with 'making a false claim'.
She said he was taken to hospital under police guard then appeared before a judge via video link from his bed. The family said Steve was told he would face a jail sentence unless a huge fine of £103,000 was paid.
Clare said on Wednesday Steve had now been transferred from hospital to a prison. "We don't know if or when we will see him again," she said.
"The UAE wants him to pay more than £100,000 or else he will go to prison. We are terrified of what might happen to him.
"Steve was arrested at the airport as he told staff he was scared there was a bomb on the plane - he worked with bomb disposal teams in the Army and has also provided medical support to teams as a civilian.
"He's no criminal."
The family have been trying to help him privately, but have now decided to publicise the case by launching a GoFundMe page.
Steve, who only got married last September, now works with private military contractors in a medical capacity. He served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) between 1998 and 2004 and for North West Ambulance Service from 2005 until 2016, becoming a qualified paramedic.
Clare said he has extensive experience in dealing with bomb dispoal units.
Clare said: "His wife and I flew to Abu Dhabi. He was put in front of a judge via video link and fined 500,000 UAED (£103,000) or sentenced to prison.
"We have appointed a lawyer and appealed the decision. But the judge has upheld the original decision and we have not been allowed any access to Steve since the beginning of February."
Clare said the appeal was lost despite medical reports having been drawn up. "The time has come that we can go longer deal with it on our own as a family," she added. "We need help from others. We just want him home.
"Unfortunately there was a drone attack whilst he was out there and he is an Army veteran. This has all come out of the blue. He has no medical history at all."
The Etihad Airways flight was delayed as luggage and the plane was searched.
Steve, said Clare, remained under police guard in hospital before being transferred to a prison on Tuesday morning. "Both his lawyer and the British Embassy have tried to visit Steve, and again have been refused access," she said, appealing for compassion from the UAE authorities.
"We cannot risk Steve going to prison and we cannot risk him relapsing. His family are desperately worried and just want to get him back to the UK. We've tried everything and we just need help."
The family has launched a GoFundMe appeal for Steve available here
The Manchester Evening News contacted the Foreign Office for comment. A spokesman said: "We are providing consular assistance to a British National in Abu Dhabi and are in contact with the local authorities."
