CNN Investigation: They used trumped up charges to try the Citgo 6 7:22
(CNN) --
Matthew Heath, an American who has been detained in Venezuela for nearly two years, attempted suicide, his family said in a statement shared with CNN.
Matthew Heath, a Navy veteran who was arrested in September 2020 in Venezuela and is believed by the US State Department to have been wrongfully detained, "was rushed to a military hospital after attempting suicide and is now fighting for his life," said his aunt, Trudy Rutherford.
Rutherford said the family received news of Heath's condition Monday morning "through private channels, not from our government."
"Just last week, in a conference call with three senior Administration officials, we advised them of our concerns about Matthew's mental health and physical well-being after nearly 22 months of wrongful detention," Rutherford said.
"Matthew's life is in imminent danger and we don't see any urgency from the White House," Rutherford said, adding that he finds himself wondering "how am I going to explain to his 13-year-old son that his father is not coming home." because the White House didn't think saving him was important enough."
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"We are frustrated with the White House's 'decide don't decide' pattern, endless policy reviews and empty platitudes about your case being a priority," he said.
Senior State Department official traveled to Venezuela to meet with detained Americans
This undated photo shows Matthew Heath before he was arrested in Venezuela in September 2020.
They ask the White House to work for the release of Matthew Heath
Heath was arrested and charged with terrorism in Venezuela in September 2020. In a statement in January, State Department spokesman Ned Price called the charges "misleading" and said the United States "would continue to seek his unconditional return."
"We are aware of reports that a US citizen has been hospitalized in Venezuela," a State Department spokesman said.
"Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment."
In his statement, Rutherford said the family had asked former Governor Bill Richardson, whose namesake center works on behalf of families of detainees, "to contact the regime in hopes of negotiating an emergency medical evacuation to United States so Matthew can get the urgent care he needs."
Richardson said in a statement to CNN that he "was deeply concerned to hear earlier today from the family of Matthew Heath about Matthew's attempted suicide over the weekend."
"Let me be clear: This is a life-and-death situation that must be taken with the utmost seriousness by all involved," Richardson said.
"It is my intention to pressure the Maduro government to allow an emergency medical evacuation so that Matthew can return to the United States and receive the critical care he needs," he continued.
"The important thing now is for the Biden administration to act decisively and quickly."
"Saving Matthew's life is in the interest of both governments. Failure to act well could cost Matthew his life," Richardson said.
In
Venezuela, Bill Richardson fails in his efforts to free detained Americans
A member of the "Citgo 6" is released in Venezuela 2:15
The Citgo 6
Heath is one of at least eight Americans currently known to be wrongfully detained in Venezuela.
In addition to Heath, five of the six US oil executives known collectively as the "citgo 6" (Tomeu Vadell, Jorge Toledo, Alirio José Zambrano, José Luis Zambrano and José Ángel Pereira) were arrested in Venezuela more than four years ago and remain detained there, as were Americans Luke Denman and Airan Berry.
Two Americans who had been detained there, including one of the CITGO 6, were released in March following a visit by two top US government officials to Caracas.
-- Editor's Note: If you or a loved one has contemplated suicide, connect to the suicide hotlines in your country. Check them out at this link.
Depression and suicide: where to seek help in Latin American countries and Spain?
CitgoSuicide