The daughter of Brisbane man Hazem Hamouda, who spent more than 400 days detained in an Egyptian prison without charge, has just three words to describe her family's feelings upon his release: relief, elation and exhaustion.
"This has been the most harrowing and traumatic 15 months that has impacted every aspect of our lives. It has cost us financially, emotionally, psychologically and physically," Lamisse Hamouda told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday.
Her father was first detained in January 2018, when he arrived at Cairo airport for a holiday with his family.
Just minutes after touching down, Mr Hamouda was taken away by security, accused of associating with the banned Muslim Brotherhood and spreading false information via Facebook - claims denied by his family.
"The fight we’ve put up is a testament to how much we love and adore our father," Ms Hamouda said.
"He can be intense and opinionated but most of all he is a genuine softie and big-hearted father."
His legal team had secured his release more than three weeks ago, but his departure from Egypt had been prevented by Egyptian authorities.
Ms Hamouda was joined at the media conference by renowned Australian journalist Peter Greste, who was arrested in Cairo in 2013 for reporting news that was ‘damaging to national security’.
"I know how he'd be feeling right now," Mr Greste said, who was subsequently tried and convicted for seven years, but released without explanation after 14 months in prison.
"Believe me, it’s indescribable."
Mr Greste was a vocal advocate in freeing Mr Hamouda.
“We will probably never know which one thing it was that finally convinced the Egyptians to let Hazem go, we certainly don’t know what it was in my case, but I do also want to acknowledge the great work Jen [barrister Jennifer Robinson] did.
"One of the things we learnt through our experience is that this is a team sport, you can’t ever get through something like this, you can’t achieve a victory like this unless a whole host of people come together."
Barrister Jennifer Robinson said the team would be placing a formal complaint against Egypt to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and would be seeking Australia's support.
"He spent more than 400 days in unjust and arbitrary detention in abhorrent prison conditions," she said.
SBS News understands Mr Hamouda is now out of Egyptian airspace, but it is not known exactly when he is expected to touch down in Brisbane.
