Three Australians and New Zealander who were rescued from Nigerian kidnappers and held hostage for five days not well enough to fly home

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Three Australian citizens and a New Zealander who were held hostage in Nigeria for five days are not yet well enough to return home two days after being rescued.  

Australians Peter Zoutenbier, Jack Couranz and Mark Gabbedy, along with New Zealander Jamal Khan were driving on the outskirts of the city of Calabar when their convoy was attacked by gunmen at about 5.30am last Wednesday.

They were released on Sunday night alongside seven others who worked for the same Perth-based mining company. 

They are expected to return to Australia and New Zealand imminently but are still being checked over by medics in Africa. 

Jack Couranz (left) and Peter Zoutenbier (right) have been released four days after they were kidnapped

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Tuesday they were still undergoing health checks but were due to return home 'soon'. 

'I understand they are going through health checks at present. They are being looked after and I hope they can come home as soon as possible,' she said. 

Ms Bishop refused to disclose their location, but insisted the men were in 'safe hands'. 

'I'm relieved that they are (safe) and we've kept in touch with their families. 

'It was obviously a very traumatic situation,' she said. 

The workers were being escorted by a security truck with four armed policemen whey they were ambushed last week by a group of militants who shot their driver, Matthew Odok.  

The kidnappers fled with the hostages in a waiting boat hidden under the nearby Idundu Bridge, however former Australian army reserve soldier Tim Croot managed to escape at first light.  

Jack Couranz is a reliability engineer, Mark Gabbedy is a project manager, Tim Croot is a heavy diesel mechanic and Peter Zoutenbier is a senior maintenance planner.

Macmahon Holdings said it has made arrangements to have the men returned to their families once doctors clear them to travel. 

CEO Sy van Dyk commended the men for their courage during the traumatic ordeal. 

'Our men have been through a traumatic experience, and we have mobilised medical and other support teams in Nigeria to provide immediate support,' he said on Sunday night.

One of the cars believed to be involved in the ambush on Wednesday outside the city of Calabar in the Akpabuyo district

Australian Mark Gabbedy (left) was kidnapped along with Tim Croot (right) who managed to escape with a Nigerian driver at first light 

'I also thank the men's families for working so closely with the company during what has been an extremely difficult time for them as well. They too have endured an incredibly stressful experience,' he said.

He said that while everyone was glad to welcome the men back, staff were still mourning the death of the driver killed in the initial attack.

'We are deeply saddened by the loss of the local driver Matthew Odok, who was fatally injured during the initial incident.' 

Mr Croot, 24, from Perth, phoned his parents on Wednesday night after his brazen escape to tell them not to worry and that he was okay, The Australian reported. 

They were attacked on the outskirts of the city of Calabar at around 5.30am local time on Wednesday

It is believed the group was on their way to work when they were ambushed near a bridge crossing.  

A witness told Vanguard: 'One of the expatriates hid under the vehicle and they didn't see him because it was still a bit dark,' the unnamed witness said.

'They also took one of the drivers ... then one supervisor and three white guys and it was like they had a boat by the beach already waiting for them.' 

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs for comment. 

The men, who work for Macmahon Holdings, were contractors for cement company Lafarge Africa