Friday, May 18, 2007

Nine years in captivity ends with jungle trek

A Colombian police officer who was held hostage by guerillas for nearly nine years has escaped after slipping from his chains and fleeing through the jungle.

Jhon Frank Pinchao walked, swam and crawled for 17 days in the Amazon rainforest before he was found by a police patrol on Wednesday.

Holding up a thin metal chain similar to the one he said was tightened around his neck at night during his captivity, he said he took advantage of a lapse by his captors to escape from the jungle camp where he and 12 others were being held.

“The principle thought of every kidnap victim every second of the day is freedom,” Mr Pinchao said. “I had a chance and I took it.”

Gaunt and thin in a police uniform, the tearful policeman added, “I hope it’s not my fault that the others face difficulties now.”

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