French Foreign Legion soldier escapes guerrilla captivity in Colombia

José Olger Melo Charry, a 35-year-old Colombian soldier serving in the French Foreign Legion, has escaped after being held hostage by guerrilla groups in Colombia for nearly a month.

Melo Charry was kidnapped in early August while traveling to visit his parents in the southeast of the country. He was held by an armed group led by Iván Mordisco, a FARC dissident. Guerrillas reportedly viewed his capture as a strategic advantage due to his status as a foreign military member.

On September 3, Melo Charry executed an escape plan by requesting to be taken aside to use the restroom. Despite having his hands bound, he managed to overpower a guard and seize a rifle. He then jumped into the Patía River, using the current to evade his captors.

Following the jump, he freed his hands and spent four days navigating the mountainous Andean jungle to avoid detection. He utilized survival training to hide from patrols and even managed to contact his family via telephone during his flight. He eventually reached a police station on Sunday.