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How a French Foreign Legion soldier dramatically escaped Colombian captors

A French Foreign Legion soldier kidnapped by Colombian guerrillas escaped after nearly a month in captivity by overpowering a guard, jumping into a river with his hands.

How a French Foreign Legion soldier dramatically escaped Colombian captors
During his escape, he found a way to contact his family, through whom he sent a message to the security forces notifying them that he was roaming the mountains.

"He managed to escape by hiding at night. Every time a motorcycle passed, he hid," behind rocks and in trees, the source, who requested anonymity, told AFP.

The source added that Melo Charry was considered a "big fish" by the guerrillas and had his hands, feet and neck bound for most of his captivity.

A photograph shared by the French Armed Forces with AFP showed him dressed in an olive T-shirt and pants at a hospital, where he was airlifted for medical tests, with no visible injuries.

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France's defense ministry said that Melo Charry had not received authorisation to travel to Colombia.

He was traveling with a woman who was also taken hostage and released hours later.

Kidnapping is commonly used by Colombian armed groups for extortion purposes or to exert political pressure.

Colombian-French politician 

She was rescued six years later in a military operation.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

France24 Verified Source

Reported by https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English · Syndicated via official news feed

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