'My jungle kidnap ordeal'

By Margaret Ryan
BBC News Online

A teenager's dramatic escape from kidnappers in a remote Colombian jungle has brought back memories for another Briton who was held hostage in a neighbouring region.

Matthew Scott is recovering in hospital after managing to break free from his hostage-takers, by diving down a cliff and surviving for two days alone in the jungle.

Mr Hart Dyke and Mr Winder were held for nine months

Fellow Briton Paul Winder's ordeal ended when his captors finally released him and his friend Tom Hart Dyke, nine months after they were taken hostage on the Colombia-Panama border.

He said: "Well done on Matthew for getting out.

"There must have been confusion. He would have terrified but would have seen an opportunity and taken it.

"He would have been running on pure adrenalin.

"You are not only kidnapped but you are taken hostage by the jungle. He would have still had a lot of terrain, much of it mountainous, to cross."

Escape plans

The former merchant banker, from Chelmsford in Essex, said Mr Scott must have feared for his life to see his opportunity and seize it.

Mr Winder and his friend, a botanist, hatched their own escape plans after they were captured while searching for rare orchids in the Darien Gap area three and a half years ago.

The pair, who were experienced travellers, stole food and were desperate to get away from their captors who initially wanted a $10m (£6m) ransom.

"We were waiting for a moment of confusion but there were only two of us and we were closely guarded by eight people.

"Tom and I both had chances to escape but we were in it together.

"We did stick it out and said whatever happens to us is going to happen to both of us."

'Being hunted'

Mr Winder said the situation would now be even more precarious for the seven remaining hostages, including another Briton, 31-year-old Mark Henderson.

The hostages will be guarded more closely. Everyone will be nervous Paul Winder Briton survives kidnap ordeal

"They will be marching a lot.

"The Colombian government is keen to find them. If there is a shoot-out it could be dangerous.

"The hostages will be guarded more closely. Everyone will be nervous.

"The kidnappers will know they are being hunted. They may not have planned their moves properly."

On a day-to-day basis he found the kidnapper-hostage relationship could switch from a relatively relaxed one to a state of high tension in seconds.

"One moment you would be laughing and playing cricket, the next you are moving again."

He and Tom suffered violence and were threatened with being beheaded by their guards, who were armed with AK47 machine guns and grenades.

Gruelling conditions

Mr Winder said the physical effects of being in such a challenging terrain may be beginning to tell on the hostages.

When he was held captive, they were constantly trekking through the jungle from daybreak.

He suffered an infection in his leg, which was caused by tropical worms which has left him with a permanent scar.

But Mr Winder said the emotional repercussions were as difficult to deal with.

Fortunately he now only has occasional flashbacks but with each new kidnapping the memories come flooding back.

He feels certain Mr Scott will be young and resilient enough to recover quickly from his ordeal.

As for Mr Winder, he and his friend took eight days to walk out of the jungle after his captors gave up any plans to get ransom money.

They had food with them and his orchid expert friend knew which plants they could safely eat.

The two men were finally reunited with their families days before Christmas.

"We had such a party. It was the best Christmas present ever."