The nine-month-old agony of Mr Balakrishnan and Mrs Prema Balakrishnan, parents of a sailor who was abducted by Somali pirates, came to an end on Friday morning.
Their son, Mr Vijesh Balakrishnan, called them on telephone and told them the good news that he had been freed.
Relief spread at Ekasila house in Nambrathukara near Koyilandy.
Mr Vijesh was among the 22 crew members released by Somali pirates on Thursday.
The pirates seized Savina Caylyn, an Italian oil tanker with crew comprising five Italians and 17 Indians in February.
“Vijesh called me around 4 am and said that he was freed by the kidnappers,” his mother told Deccan Chronicle. “We were delighted by the news.”
Mr Vijesh, who is under the protection of Italian Navy, is expected to reach home in two weeks, she said.
“He told us a bit about the hardships he underwent for the past nine months,” said Mrs Prema.
“He has not taken a bath for the past five or six months. Even drinking water was rationed.”
Two other Keralites, Mr Fazil Sheikh of Kanhanghad and Mr Hari P Nair of Kottayam, were also among the crew released.
According to agency reports from Mogadishu, the captives were released after paying a ransom of $11.5 million.
Source: The Deccan Chronicle
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