Brit Laura Plummer wept down the phone saying that she couldn't "wait to get home" after hearing reports that her Egyptian prison hell might soon be over.
She said she had "given up hope" of ever coming home, but now may be released as early as Saturday.
The 33-year-old, was sentenced to three years in jail for carrying painkillers into Egypt, but as part of Egypt's Revolution Day celebrations, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has reportedly pardoned her.
She phoned home and told family, The Sun reports: "I never thought this day would come. I’d given up hope."
Laura Plummer was carrying pills to treat her husband Omar's back pain (Image: SWNS)She phoned home and told family, The Sun reports: "I never thought this day would come. I’d given up hope."
President Sisi does not have the authority to interfere in Egypt's judicial processes but can issue pardons.
He has used this power on previous bank holidays to release a raft of prisoners, and is expected to announce Laura's release on Saturday.
She has been living in horrific conditions since she was arrested then jailed for possessing prescription painkillers.
Laura was stopped by airport customs officers in October last year and has been locked up for around four months.
She was arrested for carrying tramadol pills, which were being taken to help treat her Egyptian husband Omar Saad, who was suffering back pain.
Laura Plummer wept when told about her release (Image: Glen Minikin)Speaking before the decision, Laura's sister, Jayne Sinclair, said: "We have a small hope.
"We are not building our hopes up but we put it through the press for him to consider.
"He has previously said he won't interfere in Laura's case but we would love her to get pardoned."
President Sisi pardoned 203 prisoners in March 2017 and over 500 in June in a presidential decree.
Ms Sinclair said the family have no contact with Laura while she is jailed but have had an update from Omar which gave them small comfort.
She added: "We have no contact at all with Laura and she isn't allowed to use the phone or anything like that.
"The family has never been able to have a phone call.
"She is not in a cell with 64 people any more like she was.
"I think it was a holding cell which she has now been moved out of.
"When we visited Egypt we put an official complaint in about the conditions of the cell."
Pete Farmer, 46, from London, who was released from the same prison in November, said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic. Best news all year.
“I’m so glad she has not got to go through any more horror. It would have sent her insane.
“Justice has been served. It was the right thing for the President to do. It is mainly their fault. They did not put any notices up to warn travellers.
“It’s only recently they put notices up on their websites in Egypt for the travel warnings.
“It will be a struggle coming back to normal life more. It has only been a couple of months but it shocked her more.
“I’m still not used to the freed and often just stay in my house doing my music.”
President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi is understood to have granted the pardon (Image: Getty Images North America)He told how recently Laura had moved cells and was with a fellow Brit called Michelle who had already served 10 years in the Egyptian jail and was becoming her ‘prison mum’
Thanks to her advice Laura got her own bed, after agreeing to ‘rent’ it from a lifer for 400 cigarettes a month.
After the pair became friends, Laura has told Omar, also 33, to give her friends and family a message saying: “Don’t worry about me.”
Last night the Egyptian authorities were unable to confirm if Laura was on the list but said the 1,600 names of people to be pardoned will be released at the weekend.
Pete, who has become a family friend, added: "I just desperately hope this is true for the family's sake.
"They have been through such an horrific ordeal I would hate to think how it would affected them if it turns out to be a false alarm."
