The family of American hostage Ryan Corbett is growing increasingly worried about his health after a “deeply disturbing” phone call from him this week. Ryan has been detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan since August 2022 without any charges being brought against him. His wife, Anna Corbett, and their three children received a 12-minute call from Ryan on Tuesday, in which he exhibited a significantly deteriorated mental state. According to Anna, Ryan’s captors have been telling him that he is forgotten by his country, and it seems he now believes them.

The family, who reside in New York, has had only five short phone calls with Ryan totaling 44 minutes since his detention. During the recent call, Ryan mentioned that he had suffered from high fevers that went undiagnosed. Anna expressed her fear about Ryan’s well-being, stating that he is often isolated for long periods of time, and with reports of seizures, fainting, discolored extremities, and deep despair, she worries every day that he may not make it home alive.

Taliban intelligence officials have accused Ryan of anti-state activities, despite the US State Department declaring that he has been wrongfully detained. Anna has been vocal about her concerns and has urged President Biden to take action to bring Ryan home safely. Qatar, acting as the United States’ Protecting Power for Afghanistan, has sent officials to visit Ryan twice, but concerns about his deteriorating health persist.

In a television interview with CBS News in December, Anna revealed that Ryan had been suffering from a constant ringing in his ears, deteriorating vision, and seizures during his imprisonment. Additionally, a childhood accident had left Ryan with a collapsed lung, making him more susceptible to pneumonia while being held in a damp and cold basement by the Taliban.

While Taliban officials claim that Ryan is being held in a guesthouse with access to sunlight, newspapers, magazines, and a small gym, these claims have not been verified by CBS News. The Taliban’s appointed envoy to the United Nations, Suhail Shaheen, has stated that they do not torture or mistreat anyone in custody. The US State Department has stated that they are actively working for the release of Americans detained in Afghanistan, including Ryan, but cannot speak publicly about individual cases for privacy and operational reasons.

The plight of Ryan Corbett highlights the dangers faced by Americans and other foreigners detained in countries like Afghanistan, where political turmoil and extremist groups pose a threat to their well-being. The Corbett family’s fears for Ryan’s health serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of international conflicts and the importance of ongoing efforts to secure the safe return of all hostages.

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Margaret Brennan and Olivia Gazis contributed to this report.