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Sailing couple robbed by pirates | Sailing couple robbed by pirates |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A couple from Greater Manchester have been robbed by pirates off the coast of Venezuela. | A couple from Greater Manchester have been robbed by pirates off the coast of Venezuela. |
Peter and Betty Lee, from Stockport, were on a round-the-world voyage and were sailing towards the Caribbean when they were attacked. | |
The pirates fired shots at the couple before scrambling on board, tying them up and shooting their pet dog. | |
Describing the ordeal, which happened a week ago, Mr Lee, 61, said: "It was unbelievable." | Describing the ordeal, which happened a week ago, Mr Lee, 61, said: "It was unbelievable." |
He said: "Before we knew it we had this pirate boat on top of us. | He said: "Before we knew it we had this pirate boat on top of us. |
"One of the men stood up, held his pistol in both hands and shot at me. | "One of the men stood up, held his pistol in both hands and shot at me. |
Mrs Lee is suffering panic attacks following her ordeal | |
"It was then that I realised I had to surrender." | "It was then that I realised I had to surrender." |
Five pirates boarded the 41ft (12.5m) boat and tied Mr Lee up. | Five pirates boarded the 41ft (12.5m) boat and tied Mr Lee up. |
He said: "I was bound hand and feet, face down, with a hand on my shoulder and a 9mm pistol in the back of my neck. | |
"My wife was down below with three of them - two of them who had pistols, and one who was very aggressive towards her, holding the pistol no more than 18in (45cm) from her face, and demanding money." | "My wife was down below with three of them - two of them who had pistols, and one who was very aggressive towards her, holding the pistol no more than 18in (45cm) from her face, and demanding money." |
The couple's dog Kankuntu attacked the men as he tried to protect his owners, until one of them shot and stabbed him between the shoulder blades, leaving him for dead. | The couple's dog Kankuntu attacked the men as he tried to protect his owners, until one of them shot and stabbed him between the shoulder blades, leaving him for dead. |
When the pirates realised the pair only had a couple of hundred dollars, they tried to rip Mrs Lee's wedding ring from her finger, leaving her with cuts and bruises, before fleeing the £65,000 yacht. | |
The couple's dog was shot and stabbed as he tried to protect his owners | |
When the Lees arrived in Trinidad they spoke to another British couple who were also robbed while sailing in the area, which is notorious for pirates. | When the Lees arrived in Trinidad they spoke to another British couple who were also robbed while sailing in the area, which is notorious for pirates. |
The couple are two years into their adventure aboard their yacht, Raven Eye, and intend to carry on with their circumnavigation. | The couple are two years into their adventure aboard their yacht, Raven Eye, and intend to carry on with their circumnavigation. |
Mr Lee said: "We're British - we're not going to let these people put us down. We've already been round the world once and this time next year we'll be in the Panama canal." | |
The couple's daughter Katie, who is sailing in Martinique, said her parents were now in Trinidad talking to officials at the High Commission, who were speaking to police in Venezuela. | The couple's daughter Katie, who is sailing in Martinique, said her parents were now in Trinidad talking to officials at the High Commission, who were speaking to police in Venezuela. |
She said: "They are both very shaken up and mum keeps on having panic attacks. They just want to help catch these pirates so they don't do it again." |
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