Captured Briton plays down tanker hijack ordeal

One of the British sailors held captive by Somali pirates on a hijacked oil tanker made light of his ordeal and said the hostages’ families “don’t have too much to worry about”.

Chief engineer Peter French is among 25 people being held on the Saudi-owned Sirius Star. He told ITV News last night the pirates had not mistreated the captives, and said he hoped to speak to his family again soon.