British sailors held by Iran for a week arrive in Dubai
Relieved group says authorities treated them very well
Dubai: Five British yachtsmen held by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards for a week after allegedly straying into Iranian waters arrived in Dubai late Wednesday night.
Luke Porter, 21, Oliver Smith, 31, Oliver Young, 21, Sam Usher, 26, and Bahrain-based David Bloomer, believed to be in his 60s, were met by British Consul General Guy Warrington at the Dubai International Marine Club.
The group arrived in a boat bedecked in UAE flags as the country celebrated National Day.
Wearing white shirts with “crew” on the back, the men were all smiles as they came ashore, shaking hands and embracing waiting friends. “We are fine ... It is a great relief ... Everybody is feeling great to have this all behind us,” one of the men, David Bloomer, told Sky News.
“We were treated very well. We are all extremely happy to be free. They towed us out to international waters, we dropped the sails and here we are,” he said.
The group were stopped by Iranian authorities while travelling from Bahrain to take part in a yachting competition off Dubai.
Oliver Smith said: “We were always questioned as a group. The first few days were fairly tense. But after the Iranians decided we showed no ill intent we got a chessboard and were allowed to go outside.”
With inputs from Agencies
