Swiss man returns home after hostage ordeal in PH

GENEVA, Switzerland – A Swiss man who escaped from Islamic militants in the Philippines returned home to Zurich on Friday, December 12, and described the moment he decided he could not spend a 3rd Christmas in captivity.

Lorenzo Vinciguerra, a 49-year-old birdwatcher kidnapped in February 2012, escaped on Saturday, December 6, after a fierce struggle with one of his captors over a machete and a frantic run to freedom under gunfire.

Speaking to reporters at Zurich airport after flying in Friday morning, Vinciguerra said it was a “huge relief” to be back home and thanked all those who had worked behind the scenes to try to secure his release.

Looking frail and gaunt but apparently having recovered from an injury to his cheek, he said he decided on his birthday in November that he could stay no longer. 

“I knew I had to get out,” he said, according to the ATS news agency, adding that he seized his chance when his kidnappers were celebrating a wedding.

Vinciguerra said he now wanted to spend some time with his family. “I’ve missed so much,” he said.

The Philippines military said Vinciguerra took advantage of a pre-dawn assault by soldiers on his Abu Sayyaf abductors in the jungles of the remote southern island of Jolo to make his bold escape.

They said that one of the kidnappers caught up with him as he ran away and there was a scuffle over his machete, resulting in Vinciguerra being slashed on the cheek and stabbing the other man in the head.

There were unconfirmed reports that the man later died. – Rappler.com