A U.S. citizen and Niagara University alumnus who went missing weeks ago in Syria has been located, is healthy and was reunited with his family Friday morning.

According to Sam Goodwin’s family, a Lebanese general apparently helped negotiate his release. The U.S. did not pay ransom.

Goodwin is a 2012 NU graduate and was a member of the men’s Division I hockey team. He’d been traveling the world and blogging about his goal of trying to see every country since leaving Western New York.

Goodwin’s parents confirmed to CNN and CBS News in a statement that 30-year-old Goodwin is “healthy and with his family.” Reuters was first to report his release.

The circumstances around Goodwin’s detention in Syria were not immediately clear, however CBS News reports Goodwin was detained on May 25 for entering the country without a Visa.

Thomas and Ann Goodwin’s full statement:

“We are grateful to be reunited with our son Sam. Sam is healthy and with his family. We are forever indebted to Lebanese General Abbas Ibrahim and to all others who helped secure the release of our son. We will have more to say at a later date. Right now, we appreciate our privacy as we reconnect with Sam.”