Somali Pirates Threaten to Kill British Couple

The Somali pirates that hijacked and kidnapped a British couple are reportedly going to kill the couple in the next few days.

In October of 2009 a British couple was sailing off the east coast of Africa when Somali pirates boarded their yacht and took hostage of the couple. Now 3 months later the Times of London is reporting that the couple will be killed within the next few days. Paul and Rachel Chandler were on what was called a trip of a lifetime. Paul, 59, a retired quantity surveyor and Rachel, 55, an economist were heading towards Tanzania when their abduction occurred last year. The Times reported that in an interview with ITV Paul was quoted as saying that he was, "just existing in hope, I'm afraid that they will just kill us and abandon us in the desert here." While his wife and he had been together the pirates had separated him from his wife, although he was allowed to telephone her, that had been almost two weeks ago. The pirates beat the couple, whipped them and even hit Rachel with the butt end of a riffle. In their last phone call Paul said that Rachel was being tormented and that she was giving up hope. Paul added, "They've lost patience. They've set a deadline of three or four days. If they don't hear then they say they will let us die." ITV was able to reach Rachel Chandler who echoed the same fears that her husband has in that the couple could be killed within days. She told the broadcaster, "Please, please find a way of helping us because it really is a very desperate situation here." When asked if she had a message for her husband she said, "The message to him is hang on for me because I hope...my biggest hope is that I shall see him at least once more before we die." A Foreign Office spokesperson stated: "We are monitoring the situation very closely and are doing everything we can to help to secure a release. We remain in regular contact with the family and are providing support. We call for the safe and swift release of Paul and Rachel."