Hashtag Sal · video

What this video covers

Two British sailors, Rachel and Paul, were boarded at gunpoint in the Indian Ocean by Somali pirates during a night passage. The attack began when an unlit boat approached fast; Rachel shone a torch on it and the pirates fired shots.▶ 0:43 Within moments two boats came alongside, men clambered aboard with assault rifles, and a third, slower boat arrived carrying the leader.▶ 1:16 Paul activated the EPIRB before going on deck.▶ 2:50 The leader initially demanded money and valuables — the crew handed over their satellite phone, which the pirates then used to call contacts ashore.▶ 4:34 Once the pirates confirmed the two were British rather than French (French Navy intervention was a known risk), the ransom demand was set at seven million dollars.▶ 5:29 The pirates decided to take the boat and crew back to Somalia, a six-day journey.▶ 4:03 The crew had hoped the pirates would spot another vessel and leave; surrendering the satellite phone ended that possibility.

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