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The parents of one of the British sailors freed by Iran today told how he had phoned them and said: “I've had a spot of bother.”
Luke Porter was one of five yachtsmen who were seized after drifting into Iranian waters. They were heading for Dubai this afternoon after an emotional reunion with their sailing team.
Mr Porter's parents Charles and Beverly revealed they spoke to him just hours after their seven-day captivity by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard ended.
Mrs Porter said: “He said, Hi mum, I've had a spot of bother, did you know?' I said yes, we were aware.”
Mr Porter added: “There were one or two tears of joy and relief this morning. We were overwhelmed. He sounded very tired but extremely upbeat and glad to be through a very hard week.”
The Britons' boat was being towed into international waters following their release early today.
The stricken vessel, Kingdom of Bahrain, was seized when it drifted off course after apparently suffering a broken propeller.
It is thought the five — skipper Olly Smith, 31, Oliver Young, 21, Sam Usher, 26, Luke Porter, 21, and Bahrain-based radio journalist David Bloomer — had been held on the island of Sirri.
Iran's news agency said the sailors were freed after an investigation confirmed they had entered its territory by mistake.
A rescue crew from Team Pindar was meeting the men's boat this afternoon and their families were being briefed at the Foreign Office.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he was “very pleased”. A statement from the Revolutionary Guard read: “After carrying out an investigation and interrogation of the five British sailors, it became clear that their illegal entry was a mistake. After obtaining necessary guarantees, it was decided to release them.”
Charles Porter, father of yachtsman Luke, said they had endured a “rollercoaster” of a week. Edwin Smith, father of skipper Olly Smith, praised the “happy outcome”.
Nicola Drayton, whose fiancé Sam Usher was also on board, said: “We'll be very, very glad to get them home.”
The Foreign Office said the boat was being met by Team Pindar director Nick Crabtree and two colleagues and accompanied to shore in Dubai.
Mr Miliband added: “I welcome the fact that this has been dealt with in a professional and straightforward way by the Iranian authorities.
“Obviously, there has been a real ordeal for the young men and for their families and I am really delighted that it is over for them and that we can call the matter closed.”
He said he understood that the sailors had been treated well during their captivity. He added: “I do not believe there is any wider significance ... it shows that diplomacy can work.”
Mr Smith is from Southampton, Mr Young, 21, from Saltash near Plymouth, Mr Usher, 26, from Scarborough, Mr Porter, 21, from Weston-super-Mare, and journalist David Bloomer is in his sixties and originally from County Dublin.
The yachtsmen were seized as they headed from Bahrain to Dubai to take part in a 360-mile race. Andrew Pindar, chairman of Team Pindar's parent company Sail Bahrain, thanked the British and Bahrain governments for bringing the incident — which was only revealed on Monday — to a swift conclusion, and the Iranian authorities for their “understanding”.
Yesterday tensions increased after the chief of staff of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned of “hard and serious” measures if the five were found to have “evil intentions”.
It was the third time Iran has taken British citizens prisoner. In 2004 it arrested six marines and two naval personnel — part of the US-led force in Iraq — for straying into its waters.
Two years ago, eight Royal Navy sailors and seven marines were captured in the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab waterway that separates Iran and Iraq and held for 12 days.
President Ahmadinejad today warned that Iran would enrich its uranium to a higher level in direct contravention of an international call to halt the process. Iran “will produce 20 per cent” enriched uranium and “anything it needs” for its disputed nuclear programme, he said.
Reader views (12)
Iran was never going to hold these dipsticks for long. This has been a wonderful opportunity for Miliband to get on a soapbox and try and look important, as if he was actually doing something, a first for him.
Why doesn't he do something statesmanlike, like getting the Israelis to send troops to Afghanistan to fight his war, since they seem pretty good at killing Muslims in Palestine?
- Wuffo The Wonder Dog, Barking, England, 02/12/2009 22:09
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If a sailing boat containing five Iranians were found sailing up the Thames,as soon as they reached The London Borough Of Westminster They`d all be given National Insurance numbers,Put up in a nice hotel and given a council flat at the first opportunity
- Tonyw, london, 02/12/2009 19:27
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Mark my words in the next 2 to 5 years Iran will prove that it has no intentions of peace the countrys leaders are bullies and the president is desperate to obtain nuclear weapons and the destroy Israel then who knows maybe he is the next hitler bent on world domination and kidnapping sailors military or otherwise is just part of his game .
- Tony Wyatt, Hastings UK, 02/12/2009 17:24
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@ Nigel, London
Iran's regime is disgusting and should not be given ANY credit. Not standing up to them time and time again as this weak government have done allows them all sorts of leeway. Pathetic Labour.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 02/12/2009 16:48
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How does this happen AGAIN? Our forces are a joke. Sailors dont just drift into Iranian waters with no help or rescue (unless they are British soldiers with clowns in government).
- Porky Pies, Land of Make Beleive, London, 02/12/2009 14:39
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Frank,
it wan't weak government, it was wise. These men DID enter Iranian territory illegally. Iran WAS entitled to detain them and investigate. Having done so and found the circumstances to be innocent, the country has released them.
Public pressure from the UK government could only have created or deepened suspicions that there was more to this than the above, and at best would have further delayed their release.
- Nigel, London, 02/12/2009 13:12
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The welcome release of these obviously innocent sailors will maybe disappoint some of the more murky politicians who would have used the captivity them to justify extra sanctions or military action against Iran.
- Jon Kent, Hertford. UK, 02/12/2009 12:55
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Has anyone told them that Brown and Miliband will want to use them for publicity shots when they get home?
- Ron, Acton, UK, 02/12/2009 11:24
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This should have been a non event where Iran is concerned. The less said the better.
- Tony, Herts, 02/12/2009 10:59
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If a sailing boat containing five Iranians was found in our coastal waters, what do you think our reaction would be? I would suspect it would be at least 42 days without trial at very best.
- Barry, Welwyn England, 02/12/2009 10:44
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This story is ridiculous unless it is some pathetic attempt to garner support for another pointless war, this time in Iran. They were not supposed to be in these waters, how would we feel if some Iranians were trying to do the same here? These people got the foreign office and MOD involved pretty quick. Not so keen on helping Gary Mckinnon though are they?
- Val Keller, London UK, 02/12/2009 10:19
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".. he also demanded formal consular access to the men."
This happened over a week ago and only now has the news been released. Added to which the Iranians have not abided by international Laws or agreements on the treatment of "prisoners". And we allow the Iranians to set up a state sponsored radio and television stations in this country?
What a weak pathetic government we have.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 02/12/2009 09:09
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