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Two men have finally returned home after facing a harrowing 100-day ordeal in a Guinea prison. Paul Inch, a 50-year-old search and rescue specialist from Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, and his colleague Richard Perham, 29, from Bristol, were initially sent to Guinea on a four-day mission to recover a downed research balloon for a company. However, they found themselves arrested on charges of espionage, which led to their prolonged incarceration.
Paul Inch described the experience as the “worst thing I have ever experienced,” highlighting the fear and uncertainty they faced during their time in the West African prison. Lord Collins of Highbury, the UK government Foreign Office minister for Africa, expressed relief at the men’s return following their extended ordeal. The Guinean government has yet to provide a response to the situation.
The men detailed the appalling conditions they endured in the Conakry prison, with Mr. Inch recounting the horror of sharing a confined space with 80 other men, unsanitary facilities, and the constant presence of vermin. Despite their innocence and belief in having the necessary permissions for their assignment in Guinea, they found themselves thrust into the judicial system with a swift and unfavorable outcome. Richard Perham revealed that they had to live each day in fear for their lives and faced a heartbreaking setback just when they thought their release was imminent.
Following their release on 11 April, Paul Inch and Richard Perham remained stranded in Guinea for an additional 42 days before finally being able to return home. The support from their loved ones, the British Embassy, and local MP Liz Saville Roberts played a crucial role in navigating the challenging circumstances that led to their imprisonment and subsequent release. Liz Saville-Roberts emphasized that the men had no involvement in the technical aspects of the balloon and were simply attempting to fulfill a logistical task with the belief that all necessary permissions were in place. The unfolding of events has been described as a nightmare by those involved, underscoring the emotional toll this ordeal took on the men and their families
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