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Yachtsman tells of joy of freedom | Yachtsman tells of joy of freedom |
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One of the five British yachtsmen held by Iran's Revolutionary Guard for a week has said it feels "absolutely fantastic" to be free. | One of the five British yachtsmen held by Iran's Revolutionary Guard for a week has said it feels "absolutely fantastic" to be free. |
Speaking from the yacht, David Bloomer said the men "were not aware" they were sailing in a restricted area. | |
The crew are said to have drifted into Iranian waters mistakenly while sailing from Bahrain to Dubai for a race. | The crew are said to have drifted into Iranian waters mistakenly while sailing from Bahrain to Dubai for a race. |
A statement by the Revolutionary Guard said interrogations had revealed their "illegal entry" had been "a mistake". | A statement by the Revolutionary Guard said interrogations had revealed their "illegal entry" had been "a mistake". |
Mr Bloomer told the BBC the group were "over the moon" when they were given the news that they were to be released. | |
"Everybody is fine and in good form now, but it wasn't easy. It was good to get out on the boat and do some sailing again what we originally came here to do. | |
Mr Bloomer said: "We were stopped by the guys in the tow boats and they wanted to know who we were, what we were, where we were going. | |
"We told them and they seemed quite happy with that. Then they said no, they wanted more information then eventually they said no, you must turn round and come back with us." | |
'Innocent of wrongdoing' | |
Mr Bloomer said "more senior people" then arrived with an interpreter. | |
"They very quickly realised that we were not having any ill intent and that we were innocent of all wrongdoing. | |
"We weren't aware that we were in a restricted area, but then of course they would have had to notify their superiors and so on up the chain and it was out of their control, it was out of our control. | |
"They did do their best to make us as comfortable as possible, but of course when they take your freedom away the worst thing was not knowing what was happening." |