British Couple Freed By Pirates After More Than A Year

Pirates Boast That They Will Spend the Ransom Money on Staging More Kidnappings

Paul and Rachel Chandler of Tunbridge Wells, Kent were released by their pirate captors over the weekend after more than a year in captivity.

On October 23, 2009 the recently retired couple was sailing in the Seychelles, on what was meant to be a world voyage that the couple had always dreamed of. They were sailing about 60 miles form Victoria, when three boats came along side them. Paul says he was asleep when the pirates, armed with guns, came onboard. The pirates forced them to sail for six days towards the Somali coast before they transferred them to a container ship, anchored offshore and already under pirate control.

The hijackers took everything of value, including their yacht, the Lynn Rival, they’d spent most of their life savings on.

The couple says they were separated for long periods of time and kept in solitary confinement for a majority of their captivity. They also have said they were kept in cages and were told every ten days that they would be released for more than 9 months.

Initially the pirates demanded $7 million dollars for their release. Family says the pirates believed the couple was wealthy and that it was difficult to convince the pirates that Paul, 60 and Rachel, 56 were just a normal retired couple. Family and friends along with other groups raised $300,000 dollars for their release in mid June, however the pirates wanted more.

The Chandlers family issued for super-injunction banning media coverage, because they believed the media was influencing the pirates.

Another $300,000 was raised, which secured their release. The exact amount of the ransom paid has not been confirmed, but it is believed to be around $600,000 in total. Money the pirates reportedly say will be spent on staging more kidnappings. The Somali community within the UK is credited with playing a major role in the couple’s release, along with prominent members of the Somali community including Dr. Hangul who frequently visited the British couple while in captivity.

Upon their release Paul Chandler learned of his father’s passing in July. The couple has said that they will need time to readjust to a normal life and mourn their loss and will not be doing any interviews or talking to any media anytime soon.

The couple was brought to the British embassy in Somalia and is expected to return home soon.