Fellow aid workers who worked with them in Liberia and other trouble spots were also on hand for the homecoming, The weary four ex-hostages held a press conference at the airport after reassuring family and friends that they were in good health.
Dr Mike Roe broke down in tears as he spoke of their brief but harrowing ordeal and thanked all those who worked to secure their release.
"It was a tough time but thankfully we had food and we had water," he said. "We were not kept with an armed guard with a gun pointed at us all the time, although obviously we were not in control of the situation and did not have the chance to be proactive."
Dr Roe, 33, from south London, was seized by gunmen along with Peter Colenso, 28, from Surrey, Sara Nam, 30, from Carmarthen, west Wales and David Heed, 26, from Wellingborough, Northants, last Wednesday.
Ms Nam, Dr Roe and Mr Heed were working for Merlin, a British charity, helping to rehabilitate hospitals and clinics destroyed in Liberia's long civil war, when they were taken hostage. Old Etonian Mr Colenso, of Esher, Surrey, was helping to set up a school in the village of Kolahun with the New York-based International Rescue Committee (IRC).
They have already told relatives they enjoyed an "uneasy respect" from their captors, who were apparently attempting to return across the border to safety in Guinea or Sierra Leone.
Ms Nam said: "The problem was not knowing what was happening. We were concerned about colleagues. My worst moment was the first half-hour and that night during nightfall. It really helped that we were all there together."
The hostages were taken after getting caught up in fighting when rebels crossed into northern Liberia from Guinea and began attacks on border towns on August 10. The West African neighbours have declared their border closed since the rebel attack began but the hostages were allowed to cross into Guinea.
The four Britons were released at the weekend along with 100 other captives after being held by Liberian rebels for two days. The four received counselling at the beachfront hotel where they have been resting since reaching the Guinean capital, Conakry, on Saturday.
Liberia torn by seven years of civil war and still stalked by armed groups even though the conflict officially ended in 1997 yesterday lifted a state of emergency in the border region, saying its forces were making satisfactory progress against the rebels. Liberia's government says Guinea bears some responsibility for allowing the rebels to cross into Liberia a charge Guinea rejects.
Useful links:
Merlin
Foreign Office - Africa
Liberian Connection
Related story:
Fears for aid staff trapped in Liberia
