That is exactly what happened.
He couldn't get to Cott for the deadline and a copy was sent to hotel halfway down the route and he signed it there, he wouldn't have made the deadline otherwise.
The City admin team sent a 'Deal Sheet' into the FA before the deadline to say that the deal was agreed and would go ahead, this allowed a few hours grace for Hatem to get to Cottingham to complete the deal. I believe the deal was one of the last to be ratified on that transfer deadline night.