Missing NI man found in South Africa

Andrew Hawthorne was located near Cape Town

A County Antrim man who was thought to have been abducted in South Africa has been found safe and well.

Sherman Hawthorne contacted BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme on Wednesday appealing for any news of his 26-year-old son Andrew.

Andrew Hawthorne had been learning how to fly in the United States and had recently travelled to South Africa to visit a friend whose family run a safari business.

Mr Hawthorne, who is originally from Islandmagee, but is now living in England, said two of Andrew's friends in County Antrim had received telephone messages from Andrew saying he was being held against his will.

He was to have met friends in Cape Town, but the messages said he had been taken to Johannesburg.

His parents were also told an armed group had threatened to shoot him.

But later on Wednesday, Mr Hawthorne said they had received news that their son had been found at an airport near Cape Town.

Mr Hawthorne said his son had gone to hospital to be checked.