![]() ![]() Steed recounts gruesome accounts of how some hostages have "been tortured while they're on the telephone with their families" including having their ears cut off.įor many of the hostages, Steed's team is one of only a handful of organizations still interested in their plight, liaising between the shipowners, the pirates and the desperate families. Some 90 sailors and fishermen are still being held, many from poor families in Asia, as well as Yemeni fishermen on six boats being used by the pirates as "mother ships," floating bases from which to launch their skiffs and attack large commercial vessels far out to sea. "These are poor people from poor families, and they simply do not have the money to pay the ransom - any ransom - that the pirates are demanding for their release," he added. He says after so many days on the ocean its time to spend some R&R in the woods.Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. These days the married father of two is spending his retirement in Vermont. Most of the attendees were sitting on the edge of their seats hanging on every word of his speech. It was like Christmas,” says Phillips.Ĭaptain Richard Phillips was invited to Richmond where he was the keynote speaker at a fundraiser for the Boy Scouts across central Virginia. Being out of those conditions Being out of those concerns it was just the greatest. Navy Seals are the true Heroes of my story,” says Phillips. Now retired Phillips looks back on his rescue with relief and high praise for his saviors. As long as you’re not a pirate,” says Phillips.Ĭrew members would ultimately sue and criticize their Captain for sailing them into dangerous waters. One year later Tom Hanks would take the lead in the aptly named film, “Captain Phillips”. His ordeal over Phillips life would change forever. “I didn’t realize till I was being hoisted up to the main deck that I made it. “Next thing I know I hear a voice, ‘Are you safe? Is it alright,’” Within seconds a Navy Seal whisked Phillips away from the lifeboat. I said, ‘What the hell are you doing?’ They just kept firing. “I thought I was in the crossfire of three pirates shooting at each other from the lifeboat. ![]() Bainbridge took out the pirates in a hail of gunfire. No Problem.’ That’s when the shots rang out,” says Phillips. On Easter Sunday salvation would arrive in a split second. Nearly five days into the ordeal tensions would reach a boiling point between the pirates. “About the fifth time I pop up one guy was right there with an AK and shoots by my head. “They could see my head in the water and they come after me,” says Phillips. “After the first full day I didn’t see a good ending for me,” says Phillips.Īt one point the then 53-year-old dove into the sea trying to escape his misery. Now I just had to take care of myself and I thought I could create a way to escape,” says Phillips. The Somalis, with itchy trigger fingers, would beat Richard and conduct mock executions. Bainbridge arrived with a team of Navy Seals. “For me I was in problem solving mode,” says Phillips. Within hours the Boston native found himself in a small lifeboat with the pirates. Once someone gets shot or killed its hard to stop,” says Phillips. “The last thing that I wanted was for someone to get shot or killed. The pirates threaten Captain Phillips and the crew. “They came in yelling and screaming with AK-47’s in your face,” says Phillips. The Maersk Alabama was the latest target. So we all went forward to the steel bulkhead for protection,” says Phillips. “Then they started shooting and you could hear the ping, ping, ping of the ricochet of the bullets. Somali pirates were bearing down on the ship and shooting at Phillips and the crew. Somali pirates coming to get you,’ And that is what we heard,” says Phillips. And it was a voice saying ‘Somali Pirates coming to get you. “It was only my second time on the ship when the incident took place.” “It started out like any other trip,” says Richard. In April of 2009, Captain Richard Phillips and the crew of the Virginia based ship 'Maersk Alabama' were on their way to deliver food aid to Africa. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |