The family of a British couple kidnapped by Somali pirates appeal for their release after Channel 4 News exclusively broadcast the first video of Paul and Rachel Chandler yesterday.
The couple, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, were taken captive by pirates on 22 October as they sailed their yacht, the Lynn Rival, in the Indian Ocean.
In the two minute video broadcast yesterday their kidnappers brandish guns, at one point aiming their weapons directly at the Chandlers.
Mr Chandler, 59, says: “This is our 27th day in captivity. So far we have been provided with adequate food and water and facilities, and so we are unharmed and in reasonable physical health.
“Mentally we under great stress and threatened. Our kidnappers are losing patience. They are concerned that their has been no response at all to their demands for money.
“We ask the government and the people of Britain, and our families, to do whatever you can to at least open negotiations with these people about money, so perhaps our lives can be brought back.
“We have been threatened that there is a terrorist gang at large in the country looking for us. We are also concerned that these people will lose patience and will not feed us.
“And I have no doubt that they will not hesitiate to kill us in a week or so from now if there is no response. So, please somebody get in touch otherwise we are just sleep-walking to a tragic ending.”
Rachel Chandler, 55, also spoke directly to the camera. She says: “We are under threat and we are told that we will not be fed and given water so we are very concerned about the future.
“Our captors are very impatient now that nobody has been in touch to enter into negotiations. So we ask the government and the people of Britain and our family to do whatever they can to enter into negotiations with these people to buy back our lives.
“As Paul has said we are told that there is a terrorist cell or a fanatic cell searching for us and we are also feeling very much under threat now that these people themselves won’t hesitate to take our lives.”
The Channel 4 News camera crew asked the Chandlers if they were happy to be filmed and the couple said yes.
The Foreign Office released a statement on the video saying: “We are aware of the video. Any such video will be distressing for the family.
“The UK Government’s policy is clear: We do not make substantive concessions to hostage takers, including the payment of ransoms.
“These are innocent tourists. We seek the immediate release of Paul and Rachel.”
The pirates have previously demanded a $7m (£4.2m) ransom.