Warren Rodwell is escorted by US military personnel following his release.
An Australian man kidnapped and held hostage by Muslim militants in the Southern Philippines for 472 days has shed more light on his ordeal, telling of his brushes with death and the methods he used to stop himself going insane.
Fifteen months after his release, he says his captors initially nearly killed him through incompetence.
He says he was shot through the index finger during his capture and nearly drowned at sea whilst being taken to his first destination.
"After we got out to sea for an hour, the boat exploded. The motors caught on fire and that's when I could see the errors being made," Mr Rodwell said.
For the next 15 months, Abu Sayyaf guards moved Mr Rodwell from camp to camp in remote mountain jungles and inhospitable mangrove swamps.
"When the mosquitoes would come out they would drive you crazy," he said.
He says he struggled each day to stay in control of his mind.
"I've always had a passion for numbers, and I'd lived in China for some time so I'd add up the number like the Chinese do ... trying to solve mathematical problems," he said.
He says his situation prompted him to reflect on his life and the lives of all the people he had known.
"I thought to myself that I wanted to at least outlive my mother," he said.
Daily struggle of hunger and sickness
Hunger was a constant companion and by the end of his 15 months as a hostage Mr Rodwell had lost about 30 kilograms.
Mr Rodwell said his captors suffered from the same lack of food and sickness.
Warren Rodwell lost over 30 kilograms during his 15 months as a captive of Muslim militant group, Abu Sayyaf . (AFP)
"I'd observe their behaviours and because I'd see a change in guards I'd also see some of them getting sick, others going crazy," he said.
"That was always refreshing, when you see that those who are supposed to be in the more powerful situation are suffering more than you are."
Despite being asked numerous proof of life questions and appearing in proof of life videos, Mr Rodwell thought he had been forgotten and was preparing to die.
"As soon as I was released and found out the extent of involvement and the commitment, especially those people within DFAT and the Federal Police, then I was quite overwhelmed," he said.
A ransom, or "board and lodging", was paid to the hostage takers, although it was a tiny fraction of the original demand for $US2 million.
As soon as I was released and found out the extent of involvement and the commitment [from] DFAT, and the Federal Police then I was quite overwhelmed.
Mr. Rodwell's release was both overwhelming and ordinary. He was dropped off at a wharf in the port city of Pagadian.
Skeletal in appearance, he could hardly walk to the port gate where he told an incredulous port worker that he had been kidnapped by the Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf.
Keeping track of time and dates was important, and he says he will never forget the date of his release.
"I asked the port guard is it after midnight? He said yeah. I said great. It's my mother's birthday," he said.
Since being freed, Mr Rodwell has been recovering in Brisbane.
A finger that was shot during his capture has been amputated and physiotherapy had helped him regain strength.
He has been collaborating with researcher Dr Bob East on a biographical book.
[472 Days Captive of the Abu Sayyaf: The Survival of Australian Warren Rodwell will be published later this year by Cambridge Scholars Publishing.]
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-17/hostage-survivor-sheds-light-on-472-day-ordeal/5675142
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