Terry Waite says 'take time out'
by Dan Wooding
July 13, 2007
LONDON, UK (ANS) -- Former British hostage Terry Waite has advised freed BBC reporter Alan Johnston to "take time out" to come to terms with his ordeal, says a story carried on www.metro.co.uk. "Mr. Waite, who spent 1,760 days in captivity in Lebanon between 1987 and 1991, said the kidnapped Gaza correspondent, who was freed on July 3rd, may initially be buoyed by excitement before the reality sets in," said the story.
"Mr. Waite, a former church envoy, also described his delight at hearing that a message of hope he had sent to Mr. Johnston via the BBC World Service had got through to him."
Waite said: "Obviously he will be very excited, he will probably feel in very good shape both mentally and physically...the reaction sometimes sets in a little later, he will do well just to take time out, to withdraw for a while.
"I went away with my wife and family and I did actually take the opportunity to tell my story before a trained listener."
He also praised Mr. Johnston's parents Graham and Margaret.
"I'm thrilled for them, both his parents are extremely nice people, I have been speaking to them from time to time," said Waite.
The story added that during Mr. Johnston's time in captivity Mr. Waite drew on his own experiences in a message of encouragement.
"It was saying 'maintain hope, people are thinking of you and you can find reserves you didn't know you had'; the sort of message I knew would be encouraging, a truthful message," he explained.
He said he was delighted to hear that the message had reached Mr. Johnston.
"Apparently he said he had heard my comments on the World Service and that they had given him some hope.
"That's really tremendous news because I remember when I was in captivity I got no news of the outside world for many years but eventually when I did hear from the outside world it was really something that did give me hope and encouragement."
© 2007 ASSIST News Service, used with permission.
