Five of the Somali pirates who released a hijacked, oil-laden Saudi supertanker drowned with their share of a reported $3m (£1.96m) ransom after their small boat capsized, local sources said today.
A pirate who was not part of the pirate operation but knew those involved, Daud Nure, said the boat with eight people on board overturned in a storm after dozens of pirates left the Sirius Star, following a two-month standoff in the Gulf of Aden, that ended yesterday.
He said five people died and three people reached the shore after swimming for several hours.
Jamal Abdulle, a resident of the Somali coastal town of Haradhere, close to where the ship was anchored, also confirmed that the boat sank and that the portion of the ransom money that had been shared between dozens of pirates was lost.
The Saudi owners of the ship, Vela International, today confirmed that the vessel and crew had been released.
Among the frees hostages were two British crewmen, chief engineer Peter French, from County Durham, and James Grady, from Renfrewshire.
US navy photos showed a parachute, carrying what they described as "an apparent payment", floating towards the tanker.
Vela's president, Saleh K'aki, said: "We are very relieved to know that all the crew members are safe and I am glad to say that they are all in good health and high spirits.
"This has been a very trying time for them and certainly for their families. We are very happy to report to their families that they will be on their way home soon."
Hijack a tanker, hold many hostage for nearly two months, demand a $25 million ransom, get $3 million by parachute, set the tanker and hostages free, leave the tanker by skiff, capsize and then drown.
Sounds like a movie with a fitting end.
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