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AP
Kevin Lunsman, a kidnapped American teenager, talks to Filipino soldiers inside the Philippine military compound in the southern Philippines following his escape from suspected al-Qaida-linked militants over the weekend.
The father of an American teenager who escaped his kidnappers in the southern Philippine jungle over the weekend called his son a "hero" on Sunday.
"I'm so proud of my son, he's a hero, he wandered two days through the jungle," Heiko Lunsmann told ABC affiliate WSET in Lynchburg, Va., on Sunday.
Kevin Lunsmann, 14, escaped from suspected al-Qaida-linked militants and wandered without shoes for two days in the jungle before villagers found him, ending his five-month captivity, officials said Sunday.
"That was a tough time, it was tough five months," Heiko Lunsmann said in the first interview since his 14-year-old Kevin was taken. "I only know he is a hero and I'm so happy he escaped."
Initial reports indicated that Kevin Lunsmann had been released, but the teen told Philippine officials and his family that he evaded his four armed captors by telling them that he would take a bath in a stream and then dashing for freedom on Friday.
He followed a river down a mountain until villagers found him late the next day, local officials said according to The Associated Press. Exhausted, hungry and still stunned, the boy initially fled from the villagers, local officials told The Associated Press.
"He was in fear so there was a bit of a chase before the villagers convinced him that they were friends," Senior Supt. Edwin de Ocampo said told The Associated Press. He said the boy was fine, but was exhausted and had bruises on his arms and feet.
City Mayor Celso Lobregat said he has been flown to Manila and turned over to U.S. officials there. U.S. Ambassador Harry Thomas said the boy would be reunited with his family soon.
Lobregat said the boy has talked by phone with his Filipino-American mother, Gerfa Yeatts Lunsmann, who was in the United States. He, his mother and a Filipino cousin were vacationing with relatives on an island near Zamboanga City when they were snatched July 12 and taken by boat to nearby Basilan.
The captors then called the family in Campbell County, Virginia, to demand a ransom, officials said.
The mother was freed two months ago after she was dropped off by boat at a wharf on Basilan. The boy's Filipino cousin escaped from their captors last month when Filipino army forces managed to get near an Abu Sayyaf camp in the mountains of Basilan, about 550 miles south of Manila.
Army Col. Ricardo Visaya said the kidnappers were believed led by Abu Sayyaf militant Puruji Indama, who is notorious for ransom kidnappings and beheadings. Troops were hunting down the militants and clashed with one group in Akbar town, near Lamitan, which may have distracted the kidnappers and gave Lunsmann a chance to flee, he said.
When Visaya asked the boy if he was freed, which would indicate that ransom was paid, or escaped, Lunsmann replied that he fled from his captors.
"No, I really did it myself," he quoted Lunsmann as telling him. Visaya said he later handed the boy to American troops based in Basilan.
Msnbc.com staff and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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This is amazing. It would be even better if he reveals enough information to get the terrorists captured or killed.
Wow this story is crazy.
This definitely has movie written all over it lol.
I wonder who they'd get to play the lead role
Justin Bieber of course
He defeats the al-Qaida forces with singing & dancing. Once they see his talents, hair and pearly-whites, they vow to become more like Westerners. They lay down their arms, shave, bathe, get their hair styled similarly to The Mighty Bieballah and start carrying small dogs in customized man-purses.
Then, of course comes the climactic Dance Contest to settle the conflict. It pits the newly formed Bieberstanians against the remaining al-Qaida forces throughout the Middle East. Once they see how much fun the Bieberstanians are having, (and not having to kill or live in caves), they all convert and the world is saved!!! Thank you Justin!!!!
Give Sylvester Stallone a face lift and have him breath some helium before he does his lines.
Glad for a happy ending!! I wonder if the villagers are democrats or republicans? LOL Had to be the first to bring it up!!!
No, you didn't have to be the first to bring politics to this story. You're a horses ass!
lighten up Uncle Ben - the guy didn't even state which he was. Don't be such a grumpy old brick.
Sorry Uncle Ben I must have made you mad beating you to it!LMAO Thank you Purnell! He must be upset because he was one of the village people!
This story has nothing to do with politics. It's inappropriate and annoying to do so. And, I haven't had my coffee, yet.
he was making fun of all the people that have to bring politics into every story. drink some coffee :)
Ah someone with thought process! Thank you impatient girl! Unfortunately coffee will not fix his disposition.
The villagers definitely represent Democrats freeing the boy from the tyranny of the Republican terrorists and their evil "trickle-down" economic tactics!
The villagers represent independents who think with their brain instead of their alliances.
Why are we still in the Phillipines? Didn't they, like Pakistan, tell us to get out a long time ago? Are we still giving them foreign aid too?
Oh god I did start it....BLahhhhh
@impatient girl, so by bringing politics into this story, wagewatcher was making fun of himself? I can live with that. I'm almost done with my coffee, thanks for asking.
Why not bring religion into the discussion too and make it a real fiasco? :-)
Really I think it's great that the boy escaped but I fail to see the hero part. A survivalist, yes, but a hero? I know hero means having great courage but I've always associated the term with helping some else in distress. This is a new usage of the word from my experience.
Uncle Ben you just don't get it do you? I may suggest another cup of coffee with a shot of Jim Beam...
Shakingmyhead... no, we are not still in the Philippines. The mother of this young man was a Filipino... they were visiting her village when this young man was kidnapped. These kidnappings have been going on for some time in the Philippines by terrorists known as the Abu Sayyaf. It was not too long ago they beheaded an American citizen but let his wife go. They terrorize the citizens of the Philippines as well. We pretty much ignore them because the Philippines has nothing we want.... sad but true. I'm so happy this story turned out like it did... I'm sure this young man will have some mental issues to deal with if these terrorists have been holding him for 5 months in the jungles of the Philippines.
I'm kinda with Uncle Ben on this one. I get that wagewatcher was *trying* to be sarcastic and was *trying* to make a point about idiots bringing politics into a story where it does not belong... but it just didn't work. All you managed to do was be the first to bring politics into a story where it did not belong. Congrats. Exactly how were you successfully making your point? I reiterate: I do get what you were trying to do. But it did not work as you say you wanted it to.
There's a lot about this story, that we just do't know. I'll wait for the book.
I'm sure there is. With two escapes and one release from the same kidnapping operation - without being paid the ransom - the kidnapping group either doesn't really have their heart in it or else they're incredibly incompetent.
Maybe they are part of the "Home Alone" kidnapping gang.
Wonderful,to Yah be the glory and continuity in the protection of our innocents.
WOW what a story, hope they get these people and they are punished for their crimes
The kidnappers were believed to be terrorists known for ransoms and beheadings. Can you imagine being the family members learning this information? Then to find out that your son escaped and is ok. What a roller coaster ride. Good job, kid - uh well, man!
For a 14-year boy, this success defines his entire life.
Great!!! Glad to read some good news first thing this morning =)
@ Bry in VA - I would agree this qualifies him as jumping from boy to manhood. He was smart to follow the path of the river once freed, as it was likely his only chance at survival.
However, I would question the sanity of his parents - what were they thinking? I understand wanting to return to the place of one's childhood and showing offspring where one came from, but surely they knew there was an al queda cell in the vicinity; and ,if they didn't, shame on them for not following the news or checking into this possibility first before taking their kid into danger. It's no small secret terrorist groups fund many things via kidnappings, and I don't believe it would be too difficult to see the kid and his mother just didn't blend in with the local populace; hence, if they looked American, (or Filipino with American trappings) he would've been a prime target. His parents should be thanking every diety, from God to the Easter Bunny, for this kid's bravery and tenacity.
did you know there was al-qaida in the PI. i did not, maybe the parents did not either. why are we so quick to judge each other? do you get in a car and drive down the road on a daily or near daily basis? if so, you take your life in your own hands , because you are relying on others being law abiding citizens. wackos are everywhere, if we stop doing our normal things because of fear, then the wackos win.
If the mother was Filipino, I'm sure she knew about the terrorists in the Philippines... it's been in the news for years and those living in the Philippines are VERY AWARE of their existence as they rape and pillage their communities as well. They have kidnapped and beheaded Americans before... they are known as the Abu Sayyaf and are a well-known terrorist group that kidnap and ask for ransom money to fund their terriorist activities.
Sanity has nothing to do with it. His mother was Filipino and as for the kidnappings, that can happen anywhere along our own southern border. It is common there.
Nice story. I am still pursuing my plan of visiting Philippines and flex muscles with these beheading masters.
What do you mean?
It means @Dohaguy wants to defeat al-Qaida by challenging them to a muscle-flex competition. Body-building will save the world. It can be the sequal to the Bieber story I outlined above. @Dohaguy, are you, hopefully, Belgian? We could be looking at the next Jean-Claude!! This time, instead of defeating Evil Asians in Bloodsport, taking out crazy white biotches in Lionheart or killing modern-day (in the early 90"s) pirates in every other movie, He That Does the Splits could split into twins, one good & one evil, and really f with the terrorists. OR...we could go Segal...
Nice work, kid! Now get on with being a kid!
Why wasn't it in the news when he was first kidnapped? I had no idea, and Campbell County is pretty local to where I live.
Glad everything turned out OK for this young man.
Ultra bad-ass, yes. "Hero", no.
I was thinking the same thing.
This kid had to endure very extraordinary circumstances (I would have despaired e.g., urinated myself) . Son was captured by terrorists known to behead. Dad was ecstatic to have his son back alive...I might also be at a loss for words to adequately describe having my son back. I understand your point (and I think everyone reading the article realizes this also) but let's not diminish where it is not really necessary.
I'm not trying to take anything away from this kid, but words mean something. A hero rights a wrong, slays a dragon, helps others and doesn't think about their own sacrifice. Soldiers, doctors, police, firefighters etc, THOSE are heroes. Had this kid killed a guard and led a group of others to safety, then I think everyone would consider him a hero. Escaping and surviving on his own in the jungle for two days at the age of 14 makes him an uber bad-ass, but not a hero.
Agreed, point conceded; not a "hero", but what a story to tell to his children if he chooses to have them.
Yes, protecting kids and teens is big money. Politicians use this not only for publicity but to threaten.
well are we still going to let them kidnapped people or we going to kick there ass.......we the people don t stand for this....we the people should go over there and kick some ass.........why would any one do a thing like this.......do they still think the war wr one is still going on,,,,,,,,we the people don t stand for this we are going to sit here and wait it out like we do on everything,,,,,,that why i work so hard to keep my people happy........if you choked a smiff what color would he be....we the people are going to watch and see what happens in the nexts few days,,,,,,,and i say agin,,,,thats why i am doing a great job for my people,,,,,oh mr obama can you tell me why this happen,,,,,,,,,,mmmmmmmmm i don t know why but i tell you this we the people will sit back and wait it out,,,,,and hope every thing comes out ok,,,,,,,we should do some thing but we the people don t have the money for it....ok mr obama i get it gee...........................
This young man is a hero to all the world showing great courage in the face of danger he and those like him are and will be the defenders of our future. WAY TO GO KEVIN, I think you deserve a medal for your courage.
This is why America has to eliminate terrosist factions, to keep our young and innocent safe. The penalty for terrorism should be beheading show them F$%&!what it is like to have their heads on the chopping block for a change. I hope these S.O.B'S GET CAUGHT AND KILLED FOR WHAT THEY PUT YOU THROUGH. God bless you and may god keep you.
Thank goodness this poor dear innocent child escaped his terrible fate. I hope that he receives extensive professional counseling & support to come to terms with such a catastrophic experience. His mental and emotional health must be made a priority.
I think his mental and emotional health are in a lot better shape than they were before.
This Teen is NOT a hero, a hero does something great, extraordinary to save lives, like Fire Fighters, some police officers, like "Sully" Sullivan who landed the plane in the river. These are heroes, not a teen that took almost a year to escape, he is an opportunist.
He took the opportunity to take advantage of his captors and succeeded, he could have easily been killed, which based on the fact, his mother was released via ransom, his cousin escaped six months before he did, I am not surprised they had not killed him.
Generally the Philipines are safe if you know where you are going and you stay with people that know the area. It's the same in other unique cultures like India.
SO sorry media you got it wrong...No teen hero just a lucky boy to be alive.
Azlan I'm sure you mean't SOME firemen right ? As it's EXTREMELY rare that one actually runs into a fiery building to save a life.
And it's RARE that a policeman goes above and beyond the 'call of duty' .
Both those professions don't even rank in the top 10 of most dangerous jobs. Not trying to dis those fine people, but to call one a 'hero' just because he joined the ranks, is, well.......over glorifying the job. Being a fireman doesn't automatically means you're a hero. btw, I'm a volunteer one myself, as is over 70% of firemen.
Sully did a fantastic thing, but, he responded with training knowledge. Looked out the window, and saw the BEST place to land the plane. Hero ? not sure how I'd answer that. He did what he was trained to do.
imo, the word HERO nowadays, is thrown around too easily and freely.
Otherwise, Great going kid, fantastic story.
Azlan Lewis. a person does not have to save lives to be a hero. The dictionary describes a hero as a man distinguished by exceptional courage, nobility, fortitude, etc. I'd say he had exceptional courage, and the fortitude, to take the chance of escaping when he could. And, after all, he's just 14. In my book, he's a hero also!!
A hero throws them self into danger, not escape from it.
I am not taking anything away from this kid, however the hero term is used all the time now for the wrong reasons. He escaped out of fear of having his head cut off.
Fear was the motivation, not nobility and fortitude. A hero would of stole a gun killed the terrorist and prevented these animals from doing it to someone else as well.
No,"Overpaidcivilservant" actually I meant all fire fighters as NOT all are MEN and for another reason just because they didn't save a person does not make them any less of a hero. I do not know of any other profession that has the chance to go out on a daily basis and put out a fire, where at any given time the building can collapse on them and they might die, all to stop the fire from spreading. If I took that attitude (which I am not), that if there is no life to be saved, well darn just let the building burn, who cares if it burns up 1,000's of properties because there were no lives to be saved. So next time there is a fire I want you to ask if there are any lives to be saved if the answer is "No" then say well I am not showing up, let it burn.
Do not put words in my posts as I mean what I say.
No "Very Interesting" he did nothing extraordinary but saw a chance to save his own life, something his cousin showed him how to do six months before, he is NOT a HERO but a copy cat. I am not using the dictionary's definition of the word, because if I were then any time the name of any religion is used it should be followed by the word "cult", based on the dictionary's definition of the word, all organizations are in fact, cult. The "Media" often defines how words are used and in this case use of the word they selected is wrong.
Also the story on the Broadcast News it was not mentioned his father being quoted as a hero. The "Media" deemed him as such as far as I am concerned which he doesn't deserve.
What is all this banter whether he was a hero or not about? Try running from a group of people with guns and spending a couple of days in the jungle barefoot and alone. At 14, I think that qualifies for the word hero, but why try to make the distinction at the expense of a very fortunate and brave young man? Why take his father's pride away from him? What is the point of all that? I don't get it. It doesn't matter if he is a hero or just a brave and fortunate young man that seized an opportunity and had the guts to risk possible death or serious injury to gain his freedom. Wow...Some of you folks got some bad eggs this morning or what?
It seems that so many are getting away from what is so great about this story. A young man escaped from terrorists and is alive. Thats what is important!! Not if he is a hero in some of your eyes or if he should have been smarter or what ever. I believe he is a hero. A hero is so many things and he is one of them. Its not about if this is a good movie or book and if other people are more of a hero than this young man. Good for this young man for being brave and knowing what could happen by running and still doing it. You never know how you would react unless you are in his shoes. He is brave and a hero and God bless him and his family.
Some people just need something to complain about to make them feel better about themselves. They need good kick in the ass of a reminder of how lucky they are, then maybe they wouldn't make such asinine complaints about the correct usage of the word Hero.
Some people glorify normal human reactions to the point where greed and exploitation happen.
As in a book deal or movie that so many of you are calling for. If anything a movie or book deal will further inflame the rate of terrorist abductions.
Ever think that this kid just wants to forget about it and walk away from the situation? Of course not, you would rather make yourself feel better watching a movie about the problems he faced.
Maybe now you people can reflect of the word hero for a reason.
I never mentioned a thing about a movie. This may, under your view, be a normal human reaction, but this most certainly is not a common scenario for most children. I also never said he WAS a hero, just that people are too focused on that part of this story and tearing down what is a very good news report. Again, if you cant see past that, maybe you need some personal reflection.
Hallen94,
If I was talking directly to you I would address you as I am now. If you can't have a discussion without getting your panties in a bunch, I wouldn't recommend newsvine.
I don't see how not agreeing with the "hero" part is tearing down the story. I would hope you could also see my point of exploitation.
I don't remember reading a story about his cousin when he escaped, do you? Step 1 in exploitation call someone a hero.
Whose panties are in a bunch, exactly? Not mine. No offense, but I am well aware of how Newsvine works. I am actually a little confused on your point of exploitation. If I misunderstood your comment, my apologies.
Did you start off your comment the same as mine, directly below mine, by coincidence?
Its all a matter of perspective I guess. I happen to think this is a really good story, and how the father chooses to address is son is irrelevant. And, in my honest opinion, the comments from people who have their 'panties in a bunch' about the 'Hero' title actually take away from what actually happened to this kid. And I stand by what I said above, so be it if some take offense. If you have to find something wrong with every story you read, perhaps some self reflection is needed. Anyway. Have a good night.
Time to KILL AL-Qaida-linked militants. Kill them all. Do whatever its takes.
thank goodness he is okay. i get anxious sometimes when i visit relatives in the Philippines and they take me out to crowded public places. locals are very observant of foreigners and are especially intrigued by Westerners (literally, everyone looks at me like i am an animal at the zoo). i will be extra cautious of my surroundings next time i go back.
I will stay the hell out of the Philippines.
This boy is a survivor! I'm not sure why he'd be a hero...but none the less it has to be a proud moment for his parents that he survived to tell the tale considering how young he is. And this truly is an amazing story!
Heiko Lunsmann - YOUR SON IS NOT A F'ING HERO!!!!! I am so sick of people throwing around the term "hero" every time something unusual happens to them. A hero is someone who puts their own life at risk, putting themselves in harms way to help another human. How dare you put your kid into the same category as our service Men and Women. Look, I'm glad you got your kid back, but he's no hero. Moron....
I think alot of people would disagree with you! It is real heroics to take the chance, life threatening chance to attempt escape and accomplish it! He showed the bad guys! Unlike yourself probably hiding in a corner pissing yourself!
wagewatcher..What is your major malfunction? What do we have for heroes today? Many of our sports heroes are arrested for drugs, assault, domestic violence...and worse. Our movie stars are lacking fidelity and about half seem to be cracked out or worse. Soldiers are not given the respect and honor that they deserve in these vines. Our political leaders are in it for the money...not "we the people." Our firefighters and medical workers obviously don't qualify according to some of these posts. What does it take to get the hero status? Sully, I agree, a true hero because he remained calm and used all of his skills to save people's lives...What is so different about a boy that remain calm and used his skills to save his own life? Why is it so important to you to tell the father off? A father's pride is a wonderful and increasingly rare commodity these days. Leave him alone @sswipe. He is proud of his son and he deserves to be.
wagewatcher...My sincere apologies Sir/Ma'am...I was intending to address Junior and I used your name by mistake. I heartily regret the error and will try to be more careful in the future. You most certainly did not deserve to be called an @sswipe and that was wrong. I hope you understand, but, if you don't, I will understand. Sorry.
Junior-barnes47
You are not a very nice person. Can't you just let this father be happy to have his son back in his lives. Does it really affect your life that much for calling his son a hero that you have to put a happy and proud father down?? Im sure you are a hero in someone eyes also.
Who cares how the word hero is used. If you believe someone is a hero than they are a hero and no one can take that away from you.
He is a "survivor"-not a hero. The word "hero" is soooo overused today it makes me ill. The military members coming home from the mideast are not "heroes" either but servicemembers who did their jobs. The same goes for most cops,firefighters etc. They get HUGE pensions for working 20-25 years and retiring early on the taxpayers dime.
except for the increasing number of corrupt cops that have been found guilty of murder, extortion, rape, kidnapping, etc.. and the ones that their fag cop friends protected. Now that I think of it no wonder people are starting to hate police.
Renee...Over used? I haven't heard the term hero in a long, long time. I have been wondering where all the heroes of my childhood went. When it is used, it is picked apart like a carcass by wolves. Let it be. Let the father be proud of his son and, if he thinks he is a hero, let it alone. It is a good thing. Does he deserve the Medal of Honor...No. Does he deserve some pride and the respect of his father...no doubt. I wish there were more heroes out there....Like when the soldiers and cyclist were killed in Reno and a shop owner had a gun and didn't use it. I wish that someone would get credit for something without it being torn apart by nit pickers.
I want to say I like the story but it was just do dang vague!!