Friends of the Maltese oil worker abducted in Libya hope that his military background will help him remain focused and get through the ordeal.

“He can be a positive guy, even more so if he sees a way out… his training will help him stay focused. But, of course, it’s all relative as we don’t know what he’s going through,” a friend of Martin Galea told The Sunday Times of Malta.

Another friend explained that Mr Galea  a retired captain  had left the Armed Forces of Malta about seven years ago for greener pastures and eventually went to work in Libya.

He worked with oil companies, focusing mainly on health and safety issues.

It was surreal when I heard he had been kidnapped

In 2011, he was evacuated from Libya during the crisis but decided to return to his job when the situation calmed down.

Many friends and relatives tried contacting Mr Galea on Thursday to wish him a happy birthday, unaware that he had been captive for a week.

“I sent him a message on Facebook. It was surreal when I heard he had been kidnapped,” a friend said.

Mr Galea is known among his friends for his passion and extensive knowledge of military history, especially military vehicles. He was involved in setting up the Malta Historic Vehicle Trust.

“When he came to Malta from Libya he often spoke about the military vehicles he would have spotted while there.

“The British army served there in the 1950s and he enjoys spotting things they left behind,” a friend said.

Meanwhile, Mr Galea’s relatives said they had been advised not to speak to the media and called on the public and the media for discretion.

They said they were surprised to hear about the abduction in the press since they were told to keep it quiet.

“We would like the situation to be kept as calm as possible to ensure that his situation is not jeopardised in any way.

“After all, we don’t know whose hands he is in and, at the end of the day, Libya is a country at war,” the family said.