British backpacker Mark Henderson said last night he was "literally at breaking point" when he learned he would be released from captivity in the Colombian jungle.

Giving his first interview via satellite phone only hours after he was freed, along with four Israelis, he said he still did not fully understand why he had been kidnapped by the ELN rebels on September 12.

The 32-year-old television producer, whose parents live in North Yorkshire, said he first learned that he would be released from the Sierra Nevada jungle about three days ago.

"One of the leaders of the ELN was with us - we literally were at breaking point and he came up to me and said, 'Right, you are being released on Monday'," said Mark.

Although he knew there were problems with human rights issues in the Sierra Nevada, he said he was still "slightly in the dark as to why we were kidnapped".

Mr Henderson was talking as he waited to be airlifted out of the mountainous jungle by helicopter.

He also made an emotional phone call home and spoke to his anxious parents, Christopher and Sharelle, in Pateley Bridge.

It was the first time they had spoken to their son since he was taken hostage 102 days ago.

When his father said "Hi", Mark joked: "Hi? Three months in the jungle and you say 'Hi'. Is that it?"

There were tears of joy as his parents received the call at the family home live on national television.

Asked how he felt, Mark said: "Fine, absolutely fine. I'm a bit lighter though. About two stone lighter."

After the call, Mrs Henderson said: "It was just magic. He just said he was fine and he sounded fine."

Moments earlier, a message from Mark was passed on to his parents through ITV News.

It read: "Mum, dad I cannot wait to get back over there. I can't wait to get back home and speak to my parents finally.

"The greatest worry for all of us here over this awful time has been your health not my health, the health of my parents, my grandparents and our relatives.

"The worst thing is not knowing what you are going through and how you are coping with the worry. I'll be home soon."

Mr Henderson was captured along with fellow Briton Matthew Scott, a German, a Spaniard and the Israelis.

They were taken hostage by the Cuban-inspired rebels on September 12 as they were travelling to the 2,500-year-old Ciudad Perdida (Lost City) ruins.

Matthew, 19, from London, escaped shortly after his capture by leaping from a high ravine and spending 12 days alone in the jungle.

The German and Spaniard were released later.

Yesterday afternoon, the Foreign Office rang Mr and Mrs Henderson to tell them their son and the remaining hostages had finally been released.

Answering the phone, Mrs Henderson said "thank God" before telling her family that Mark was safe.

Francis McDonagh, Colombia programme officer of Cafod, the Catholic Church's agency for overseas development, said Mr Henderson was having a meal of Coca Cola and cheese.

He said: "I said that the idea was to get him back for Christmas. He said he was upset that he hadn't bought any Christmas presents, and I said I thought that he was the best present his family could have."

A partner organisation of Cafod, Caritas Colombia, had been negotiating with the rebels for the hostages' release.

Matthew said last night after being told that the last of his fellow captives were free: "I am just so relieved."