British hostage snatched from luxury resort freed by pirates
The British holidaymaker kidnapped from a Kenya beach resort has been freed today after six month in captivity.
Judith Tebbutt, whose husband David was killed when she was snatched by a gang of six in September, was released by Somali pirates after a ransom was paid by her relatives.
The money was airdropped this morning and Ms Tebbutt, 56, was taken immediately taken by plane to Nairobi.
She had been captured while holidaying on in the luxury Safari Village the remote island of Kiwayu, close to the Somali border. Ms Tebbutt and her husband had been the resorts only guests at the time.
Speaking to ITV News today, Ms Tebbutt said: ‘I am very relieved to have been released. Seven months is a long time and under the circumstances with my husband passing away…made it harder.
"I am just happy to be released and I’m looking forward to seeing my son who successfully secured my release. I don’t know how he did it, but he did. Which is great."
Ms Tebbutt, from Hertfordshire, landed in Nairobi this morning. She will be looked after by officials from the British embassy before being flown back to the UK.
Prime Minister David Cameron’s spokesman confirmed the release and said the government would provide consular care in Nairobi.
He said it did not pay ransoms and did not "facilitate concessions to hostage takers", but had met the family regularly to discuss the case.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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