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Captured oil workers are released | Captured oil workers are released |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Fifteen oil and gas workers, including seven Britons, taken captive on a vessel off west Africa have been freed. | |
The oil and gas field exploration ship had illegally strayed into the waters of Equatorial Guinea three weeks ago. | The oil and gas field exploration ship had illegally strayed into the waters of Equatorial Guinea three weeks ago. |
The team, including a Belgian, South African, three Nigerians and three Ukrainians, had been working for the engineering firm Gems UK. | The team, including a Belgian, South African, three Nigerians and three Ukrainians, had been working for the engineering firm Gems UK. |
Chris Wood, 44, a survey engineer from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, was one of those held taken captive at gunpoint. | Chris Wood, 44, a survey engineer from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, was one of those held taken captive at gunpoint. |
He and other members of the group were taken to the Tropicana Hotel in Malabo, the island's capital, where they were detained. | He and other members of the group were taken to the Tropicana Hotel in Malabo, the island's capital, where they were detained. |
I can't tell you what a relief it is that he's actually been released Belinda Wood, wife of Chris Wood | |
On hearing the news he had been freed, his wife Belinda, 41, said she was "over the moon and on a high". | On hearing the news he had been freed, his wife Belinda, 41, said she was "over the moon and on a high". |
She added: "It's absolutely fantastic and I'm just so pleased. | |
"I can't tell you what a relief it is that he's actually been released. It's just lovely." | |
Mrs Wood added: "He was fine and in the first week we thought tomorrow it will be resolved. | |
"But for the last week and a half he's been getting quite anxious about it and felt that nothing was really progressing or happening, so was getting more concerned as time went on." | |
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said consular officials from the British High Commission in Nigeria had been involved in talks with officials from Equatorial Guinea to help secure the release of the men. |