Nigeria kidnap girl's father dies

Michael and Margaret Hill were reunited in July

The father of a three-year-old British girl who was kidnapped in Nigeria has died a month after her ordeal.

The family of County Durham-born Michael Hill, 60, said they believed the stress of daughter Margaret's abduction had triggered a heart attack.

She was snatched by gunmen as she went to school and held for four days while they demanded a ransom.

Mr Hill, an oil worker in Nigeria, had offered to hand himself over in exchange for Margaret.

The Foreign Office confirmed he had died at home in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, on 8 August as a result of a medical condition.

We all can't help but think it was that terrible ordeal which has triggered his death Catherine Duffy

Mr Hill had moved to Nigeria a decade ago.

He was operations director for the US oil company Lone Star and ran a karaoke bar with his third wife, Oluchi, also known as Tina.

His funeral is expected to take place in Port Harcourt.

Mr Hill had planned to return to Murton, County Durham, for a family reunion.

His sister, Catherine Duffy, of Murton, told the Northern Echo newspaper: "We all can't help but think it was that terrible ordeal which has triggered his death."

She added she had spoken to Oluchi, who agreed.

Mrs Duffy said: "She is very low and she confirmed to us that his death certificate stated he had died of a heart attack."

Mrs Duffy said she hoped to arrange a memorial service in County Durham.