The family of a British charity medic held by the Taliban's secret police has cautioned that he may be close to passing away as a result of his care.
Since January, secret police in Afghanistan have been holding Kevin Cornwell, a 53-year-old father from Middlesbrough, allegedly because of a'misunderstanding' on whether he was allowed to possess a firearm.
Mr Cornwell's captors have denied him medical care for a pre-existing kidney condition, which has flared up to 'life-threatening' levels, according to his loved ones.
A spokesperson for the Cornwells said: 'This man, who is the heart of our family, might die from the absence of medical treatment – not because he committed a crime, but because he cared for people.
His only crime is helping those who cannot help themselves. He is a man who values honour and integrity in everything he undertakes in life.'
Mr Cornwell, a trained paramedic who has been working for healthcare charity Iqarus International, is reportedly accused of having an illegal firearm in his hotel room.
But his family insist he was granted a licence for the weapon.
The UK lost its embassy and consular channels after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan two years ago (Picture: AP)
Mr Cornwell's kidney problems have been allowed to flare up without treatment
'We are no longer in a situation where we have the allowance of time for protracted debates on the release of the detainees, Kevin's health dictates it,' Scott Richards of the Presidium Network, a nonprofit organization negotiating with the Taliban on the Cornwells' behalf, said.
'If Kevin were to die in GDI custody, the ramifications for the Taliban would be broad.
'The evidence clearly indicates that the situation is a misunderstanding and there is now a risk of fatality due to the inability to provide medical care, which is of extreme concern.
'The health of a true humanitarian is endangered and urgency has become a necessity.'
Among the three captives are 24-year-old Youtuber Miles Routledge (Picture: PA)
He is being held along with Miles Routledge, a 23-year-old Youtuber who calls himself a 'danger tourist', and an unnamed UK national who manages a hotel in Kabul.
The location where they are being held is unclear and the British government is unable to deploy consular officials in Afghanistan to find them.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson previously said officials are trying to establish contact with the trio.
'If there are concerns to people's safety, if they are British citizens abroad, then the UK government is going to do whatever it takes to ensure that they are secure,' Home Secretary Suella Braverman said on Sunday to Sky News' Sophy Ridge.
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