Rodwell's family tell of botched rescue

Almost $94,000 was paid to secure the release of former Australian hostage Warren Rodwell in the Philippines.

FAMILY of former Australian hostage Warren Rodwell have revealed a separate plan to secure his release was hatched three weeks ago but failed when one of his captors died of a heart attack.

The botched attempt saw Australian Government officials fly Mr Rodwell's sister, Denise Cappello, to the southern Philippines earlier this month after securing a large bank loan to hand off to his captors.

She was to assist with the exchange of money to the Abu Sayyaf extremist group, which had been holding him captive for 15 months.

Australian hostage freed after $94,000 ransom paid

Freed Aussie hostage Warren Rodwell gives a statement as he arrives at Manila International Airport.  Picture: AFP

News Ltd has been told Ms Cappello deposited the money in a Philippines bank account in anticipation of the transaction.

She was escorted to the region by officers with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade but the plan turned to disaster, her Tamworth-based cousin Susan revealed, due to forces outside their control.

"They escorted her over there but that was a bit disastrous. It happened about three weeks ago but it all fell through," Susan - who asked that her surname not to be used - said.

Warren Rodwell appeared to require some help after 15 months in captivity. Picture: AFP

"Somebody on the other side had a heart attack and so everything just went 'kaput'.

"Her money was in the bank ready to go.

"She hasn't bee able to say a lot either because they want it all kept secret."

Former soldier and Australian citizen Warren Rodwell has been released by al-Qaida-linked captors who held him hostage in the Philippines for over one year.

Mr Rodwell, 54, who was released last Friday for a sum of $AUD93,600, who was treated at a military hospital on the island of Mindanao but was due to arrive at the Australian Embassy in Manila last night.

Plans for his return to Australia are under way and expected to take place within the next fortnight.

Along with his sister's bank loan, Mr Rodwell's wife Miraflor Gutang, 28, sold a substantial amount of family assets, including a car, property, and a water filling station, to raise the ransom money demanded by the terror group, said to have been $2 million.

Wayne Rodwell, right, the brother of released Australian hostage Warren Richard Rodwell, answers a reporter's question while his sister Denise Capello, left, listens in Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

She has now gone to ground in the days since his release and is understood to be remaining in Mindanao, despite his transfer to the country's capital.

Mr Rodwell's ordeal ended on Saturday when he was marched down a mountainside of Basilan island, ordered into a boat and told to "paddle for his life', he told police.

With one of this extremist captors travelling with him, a gaunt and exhausted Mr Rodwell arrived after 1am (4am AEST) in a fisheries area of Pagadian city, where he was spotted by a supervisor and asked whether he was a tourist.

Ms Cappello and her brother, Wayne, yesterday expressed their joy and relief over his release, saying their brother was "delighted" to be free.

"He has, however, lost a lot of weight and is exhausted. He will need medical support, as well as time and space to recover," they said, before paying tribute to the Philippines police, Australian government, and the Basilan Vice-Governor Al-Rasheed Sakkalahul, who was pivotal in the success of his return.

"Without his help, Warren would not be free from captivity."

Businessman and philanthropist Dick Smith, who was instrumental in the release of another Australian hostage, Nigel Brennan, confirmed he played no role in Mr Rodwell's ordeal.

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