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Briton flees Colombia kidnap
One out, seven to go. EFLThe Colombian Army says it has picked up a British tourist who escaped from kidnappers after two weeks in the jungle. Army commander General Carlos Ospina told Colombian local radio that London-born Matthew Scott, 19, was found by Indians in the Sierra Nevada mountains and taken to authorities. The British Foreign Office confirmed that Mr Scott had escaped his captors. There was no word on the other abducted trekkers - another Briton, four Israelis, a Spaniard and a German - who were taken hostage on 12 September. Mr Scottâs family said they understood he was now in an army camp receiving medical treatment. "We are absolutely delighted that he is safe and well after walking for 12 days and we canât wait to see him," his sister Sophie said, in a statement on behalf of the family. General Ospina said a doctor was examining Mr Scott who was apparently "very exhausted", news agency AFP reported. One of Mr Scottâs Indian rescuers told local television: "He was dizzy and vomiting. Since he barely spoke Spanish, he didnât tell me what was wrong with him." Based on Scottâs information, the military commander leading the hunt will be able to "readjust" the search, the general said. Earlier on Wednesday, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe blamed the Cuban-inspired National Liberation Army for the kidnapping. The rebels use ransom money to finance a four-decade-old guerrilla war. Well done, Matt! Posted by: Bulldog 2003-09-24 |
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