Family fear kidnappers' anger

By SCOTT INGLIS and AGENCIES

The family of the New Zealander kidnapped in northern Ecuador with nine others fear the escape of two of the hostages may anger their captors.

Dennis Allen Corrin's family in Nelson anxiously await news of his fate after two French helicopter pilots abducted with him fled their heavily armed kidnappers.

Jean Lois Froidurot and Jany Marcellin foot-slogged to the outskirts of Lago Agrio, a jungle town near the border with Colombia, 180km east of Quito, at midday yesterday (NZ time).

Solders helped them onto a plane to Quito, where they are under tight security at a military base.

There was no immediate word on how much of a breakthrough their escape might be in the hunt for the kidnappers.

Ecuador Government officials did not give details about the escape or comment on Mr Corrin's plight.

His sister, Yvonne Burns, said she was worried that the kidnappers might be angered by the escape but also acknowledged the possibility that the escaped men might be able to lead Ecuadorean troops to the abductors.

Mr Corrin, aged 52, working for US-based Erickson Air Crane, was kidnapped with the others from oil fields in the El Coca jungle region, 240km southeast of Quito, last Thursday.

Forty masked gunmen, in military clothes, were believed to have been under orders to seize any foreigners.

Up to 3000 troops have been hunting them.

Families of the victims and authorities have been frustrated at the lack of information about the kidnappers.

So far, no demands have been made to the authorities.

As one Ecuadorean official put it: "We are confronting the most difficult days, the days of silence."

Herald Online feature: Kidnapped in Ecuador