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Rescued sea captain thanks navy Hero's welcome for daring captain
(about 13 hours later)
US sea captain and former hostage Richard Phillips has thanked the military for rescuing him from pirates, saying his rescuers were "superheroes". US sea captain and former hostage Richard Phillips has returned home to a hero's welcome at Underhill, Vermont.
Capt Phillips, whose container ship the Maersk Alabama was attacked off the Somali coast, was greeted by family and friends on his return to the US. Flag-waving neighbours cheered his arrival at his farmhouse decorated with ribbons and "Welcome Home" balloons.
His hometown of Underhill, Vermont, is preparing to give him a hero's welcome. Earlier he thanked the US military for rescuing him from pirates, saying his rescuers were "superheroes".
During the attack, he offered himself as a prisoner to the pirates in return for them letting his crew go free. As captain of the container ship the Maersk Alabama he offered himself as a prisoner when Somali pirates attacked, in return for them letting his crew go.
He was rescued after US Navy seals shot dead three of the pirates that were holding him captive on a lifeboat.He was rescued after US Navy seals shot dead three of the pirates that were holding him captive on a lifeboat.
'Bit part''Bit part'
Capt Phillips said the snipers "did the impossible" by saving him, adding that he was "not a hero".Capt Phillips said the snipers "did the impossible" by saving him, adding that he was "not a hero".
"They're the superheroes," he said. "They're the titans."They're the superheroes," he said. "They're the titans.
"I am just a bit part in this story: I'm a small part, a seaman doing the best he can like all the other seamen out there.""I am just a bit part in this story: I'm a small part, a seaman doing the best he can like all the other seamen out there."
Richard Phillips: 'I can't believe this, I'm not a hero'
He added that he was proud of his crew.He added that he was proud of his crew.
"We do the best with what we've got, and my crew did an excellent job," he said."We do the best with what we've got, and my crew did an excellent job," he said.
Capt Phillips is returning to Underhill, where streets are decked out in the yellow ribbons which came to symbolise his captivity and some homes and businesses are displaying "Welcome home" signs.
No parades or celebrations have been planned in the town.
The 19-man crew arrived back in the US on Thursday. They have not yet been reunited with the captain.The 19-man crew arrived back in the US on Thursday. They have not yet been reunited with the captain.
Pirates operating off the coast of Somalia have intensified attacks on shipping in recent weeks in one of the world's busiest sea lanes, despite patrols by the US and other navies.Pirates operating off the coast of Somalia have intensified attacks on shipping in recent weeks in one of the world's busiest sea lanes, despite patrols by the US and other navies.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton unveiled a plan on Wednesday to tackle piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean off Somalia.US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton unveiled a plan on Wednesday to tackle piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean off Somalia.