Pirate couple cling to hope after 'bungled' rescue attempt
Jan 24 2010 Fiona Young

A COUPLE kidnapped by pirates have told how they are "existing in hope" of being rescued.
Paul and Rachel Chandler were taken hostage as their yacht sailed from the Seychelles to Tanzania in October.

Speaking from captivity as it emerged an attempt to free them by British special forces was said to have been bungled, Paul, 59, said he feared they would be killed at any time.

He said he was " just existing in hope", adding: "I'm afraid that they will just kill us and abandon us in the desert."

He said the pirates had separated him from Rachel, 55, who told him in their last phone call that she was "giving up".

And he said they were each being kept like a "captive animal" in solitary confinement.
He added: "They've lost patience. They set a deadline of three or four days. If they don't hear then they say they will let us die."

Rachel said: "Please, please find a way of helping us because it really is a very desperate situation here."

On Friday, military officials told the BBC that a rescue mission by the Special Boat Service had failed because of bureaucratic delays and technical problems.

The SBS team did not arrive in time to rescue the couple, they said. The official added: "There was some bungling."

An MoD spokesman would not comment on the claim.

After they were captured, it emerged a Navy vessel was in range when they were led from a yacht to a container ship but did nothing in case it put the couple's lives at risk.