Kidnapped welder escapes

Kidnap victim Hayden Richards yesterday escaped his captors, and was found handcuffed and wandering on the oilfield access road in Fyzabad.

Richards, a 33-year-old welder, told police he escaped from an abandoned house when his captors left him alone. He was snatched shortly after leaving his home at Jones Street, La Romaine, around 11 am on Friday. His wife Debbie said she had received a phone call demanding a $2 million ransom for his release. He was found by Petrotrin Estate Officers patrolling the Primera Oilfield area. Richards told police he was not given anything to eat by his kidnappers, and that he was beaten and suffered a broken hand. He was treated at hospital and allowed to go home.