Winnipeg relatives of Peter Kostelnyk were reunited with him Thursday night as he returned from Libya.
"We're so happy that Peter (is) home and the kids are happy their dad is okay. It's been pretty stressful," said Tanice Kane, his wife.
Kostelnyk has been working in Libya as an oil worker.
On Sunday, Kostelnyk told his wife in Winnipeg that things were fine. But on Monday, she received an email saying the situation in Libya had drastically changed.
"He said things were happening quickly - I guess through the night, trucks had been stolen and some wells set on fire," said Kane.
Last week, Libyans began protesting against leader Muammar Gaddafi after 42 years of rule. Reports suggest hundreds of people have been killed.
Kane said her husband flew to the Libyan city of Tripoli, but was having trouble getting out of the country.
"They said it was just bedlam at the airport and they couldn't get (into) the airport," said Kane.
He managed to later get a flight through a German airline to Frankfurt.
"You know, everything was out of our control it was just escalating and we are so thankful that it was a good ending for us," said Kane.
Kostelnyk said he was happy to be home. He also said his thoughts were with the Libyan people and co-workers still in Libya.
"It was scary, but personally I wasn't in any great danger," said Kostelnyk.
While one Manitoba family is feeling relief, another is feeling sorrow.
Fawzi Mazek said Wednesday that his 18-year-old cousin was shot in the head and killed while protesting in Libya.
"His mom was in very bad shape and it was a big shock for the whole family," said Mazek.
Mazek said most of his family is safe in the eastern part of Libya, which is now controlled by those opposed to Gaddafi.
Mazek is concerned by the situation in Libya but said his brother-in-law told him they're happy change is underway.
"He said…‘for the first time I feel freedom in my life,'" said Mazek.
- with a report from CTV's Jillian Taylor
