Dimitris Giatis, the 20-year-old Greek sailor who was kidnapped by pirates in Togo for 40 days, was emotionally reunited with his family on Saturday night when he arrived at Athens Eleftherios Venizelos Airport.
Over 20 family members from Messolonghi awaited anxiously at the arrival gates to greet the young man who said, "I'm fine now. I was very scared but they treated me well because for them I was the money.”
The pirates in Togo released the three crew members of the Greek oil tanker they seized in November, including Giatis but a fourth member, a Filipino man, sadly died in captivity.
Giatis was accompanied by his brother and was greeted by his mother who gave him a Greek flag, which he placed over his shoulders, while his father and young sister cried and embraced the 20-year-old who was finally free.
The family left for their home in Messolonghi straight away, as Dimitis' parents want their son to settle back to normal life, saying this will be the "best Christmas ever."
*Watch the video here-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=GCV6gep4eCI&feature=emb_title
*Image and video courtesy of Protothema/ William Faithful
