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(#4) A Woman Convinced Her Captor That He Was Trying To Save Her Instead Of Kill Her
Even in the middle of a horrifying nightmare, Jennifer Holiday was able to keep her wits about her.
While driving with her 18-year-old cousin Anna in east Texas, the women were suddenly ambushed by gunfire. Jennifer had been badly wounded in the arm, and the shooter approached the car to inflict more damage. He shot Anna in the head, killing her, and then dragged Jennifer into the woods to assault and torture her.
With no help in sight, Jennifer knew her only chance at survival was to ask to go to her attacker's house. He was clearly on drugs, and if she could maintain control over him, she knew she'd be able to get away.
After arriving at the house, she convinced him that he had saved her from a car wreck. She was then able to call 911 right in front of him and, while keeping her voice completely calm, made the dispatcher realize she was in the presence of her attacker. Jennifer survived the ordeal, and the man was captured.
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(#10) A Seattle Tourist Intimidated A Teen Robber
This man showed absolutely no fear in the face of danger - and luckily, it worked.
While in Seattle visiting his mother, the victim was riding a city bus near the Central District area. He noticed a suspicious teenager trying to hide his face, and when the man reached his stop, the teen followed him.
When the man turned around on the street, the teen pulled a gun out of a paper bag. Unfazed, the man said, "What are you going to do with that pistol?" He threatened to fight back if he was robbed and the would-be robber realized he was in way over his head. He hid the gun and parted ways with the man at the next street corner.
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(#9) Captive Reporter Was Asked To Set Up Kidnapper's Cell Phone, Used It To Tweet His Location
In this case, a kidnapper trusted his prisoner to set up a brand-new cell phone for him and it totally backfired.
Japanese journalist Kosuke Tsuneoka was captured in Afghanistan in 2010. After five months of captivity, he was losing hope of ever getting home. Then, one of his kidnappers was having trouble setting up his new Nokia and asked Tsuneoka for help.
Tsuneoka was able to convince them to get an Internet connection, which he then used to tweet his location while "setting up" the phone. He was freed a few days later.
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(#8) Actor Used His Trademark "Tarzan" Yell To Avoid Kidnapping
This story proves that anyone can be disarmed by a celebrity.
Johnny Weismuller, who played Tarzan in twelve different films and created the iconic character's ape-like yell, was visiting Cuba during the revolution. While he and some friends were out golfing, they suddenly found their cart surrounded by rebel soldiers pointing guns at them.
After trying to communicate that he was the famous actor known for playing Tarzan, Weismuller switched gears and let out one of his huge Tarzan yells. The star-struck rebels put down their guns and yelled, "Tarzan! Tarzan!" Weismuller and his friends were escorted back to their hotel completely unharmed.
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(#2) A Woman Used Her Engagement Ring To Free Herself After Being Buried Alive
This is truly a tale of staying calm in an insanely stressful situation.
In 2002, Michelina Lewandowska's fiance attacked her with a Taser, bound and gagged her, and then buried her alive. After waking up in a cardboard box underground, Michelina was able to use her engagement ring to cut herself free.
Her fiance apparently committed the crime because he wanted complete control over their three-year-old son and had "grown tired of her." Michelina says she was able to survive by thinking about getting back to her child.
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(#6) A Man Outsmarted Pirates To Get His Ship Back
When pirates decided to hijack a fishing vessel owned by Hassan Khalil, they messed with the wrong guy.
Khalil's vessel and another ship were overtaken by pirates near the coast of Yemen in 2009. After trying to negotiate with the pirates unsuccessfully, he hired a group of mercenaries. Khalil paid one pirate $10,000 with the promise of more money and was allowed to re-board the ship to check on his crew.
Once back on the ship, he and his crew attacked the pirates with guns, knives, and tools. Eight pirates were delivered to the authorities, while two were killed in the sneak attack.
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About This Tool
You may never have heard the name Natasha Campsch, but in Austria, her story is almost a household name. She was kidnapped at the age of 10 and held for 3096 days. She finally escaped from the kidnappers by her own wisdom. She also wrote a book about her experience, telling her own story and helping victims of similar crimes.
There is no doubt that being kidnapped or held hostage is a frightening and heartbreaking disaster, but in any case, do not give up the hope of survival. The random tool shares 10 shocking survival stories of people who outwitted their captors, wish these true stories can teach you some important escape skills.
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