Shaker Aamer feared food may have been 'poisoned' by American captors on returning flight to UK

The last British detainee held at Guantanamo Bay refused to eat or drink on flight home to UK and was denied treatment by a private London hospital, one of his doctors has said.
Fears: Mr Aamer refused to eat or drink anything on the flight home because he believed it could have been spiked
Reprieve UK
Jamie Bullen1 November 2015

Shaker Aamer, the last British detainee held at Guantanamo Bay, refused to eat on the flight home from America over fears his food could have been poisoned, according to one of his doctors.

Mr Aamer, 48, whose family are from Battersea, arrived back in the UK on Friday by private jet after he was finally freed from the detention centre after nearly 14 years in captivity.

In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Dr David Nicholl, a consultant neurologist who has campaigned in support of detainees at the US base, said Mr Aamer didn't eat or drink anything while he was in the air in case it had been spiked by his captors.

Dr Nicholl, the first doctor to see Mr Aamer on his return, also revealed to the paper a private London hospital refused to treat the father-of-four days before he was due to return.

He told the Mail on Sunday: "The psychological impact of what he’s been through is going to be at least as big as the physical one. He really has been to hell and back.’

"He has still got a fantastic sense of humour and a beaming smile.

"He looks a lot older than he does in the familiar pictures. That might just be helpful, because it means it’s going to be easier to do what he most needs – to live quietly with his family beneath the publicity radar."

According to the doctor, Mr Aamer had no luggage when he touched down at Biggin Hill Airport other than a small red holdall carrying all his possessions from his term of imprisonment.

This weekend, Mr Aamer underwent tests to determine the state of his health after doctors reported he had been suffering from severe headaches, sciatica and back pain.

On Sunday, Dr Nicholl tweeted he would not disclose further details on Mr Aamer's health due to confidentiality issues.

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