Missing American ‘Pilgrim’ Found After Syrian Rebels Liberate Regime Prison

An American man identifying himself as Travis Timmerman from Missouri has been found in Syria after being freed from a prison in the aftermath of the rebel offensive that toppled dictator Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

The 29-year-old recounted his experience to NBC News on Thursday in Dhiyabia, a town near Damascus. Timmerman’s journey to Syria began after he disappeared from Budapest in May prompting Hungarian and Missouri authorities to issue missing person alerts. He was last seen at a church before vanishing.

Timmerman claimed that he crossed into Syria “illegally” on foot after spending three days in the mountainous border region without food or water.

“I was on a pilgrimage to Damascus,” Timmerman explained. “My Lord sent me to Damascus.”

“I was fed well; I always had water. The only difficulty was not being able to go to the bathroom regularly,” Timmerman said, recounting his months-long detention by the Assad regime.

His release came when rebel forces stormed regime prisons, freeing thousands of detainees. After emerging barefoot and disoriented, he was found by a local while asking for water. Timmerman said he had been sleeping outside and in an abandoned house in the days following his release.

Initially, a video of Timmerman circulated online, leading some to mistake him for missing journalist Austin Tice.

Despite the ordeal, Timmerman appeared composed.

“It was actually good for me,” he told NBC News. “A time of solace, of meditation, and I’m stronger for it.” He added that he had spent much of his imprisonment “reading the scripture” and remained focused on his spiritual journey.

When offered assistance from U.S. officials, Timmerman declined and said: “I’m okay for right now.”

Watch above on NBC via CNN.