Vetoon Phoome’s family feared the Thai farm worker had been killed by Hamas in last month’s attack on Israel until they learned today he had been free as a hostage in Gaza, Reuters reports.

“He told me not to cry, to tell mother I’m coming back,” Roongarun Wichagern told Reuters of her younger brother after an emotional reunion on a video call.

Vetoon, 33, who has been living in Israel for five years, is one of 10 Thai hostages freed by Hamas during the four-day truce.

“He said, I’m not dead, I’m not dead,” Roongarun said, calling his survival a “miracle”.