The story of Derek Aikman being taken hostage has dominated the headlines and national discourse for much of this week but it is over and thankfully, the story has a happy ending. At about 11:15 last night, a group of men found Derek Aikman between miles 22 and 23 on the Western Highway. He was gagged, bound and blindfolded but without major injury. They took him to the Hattieville Police Station and by 11:45, police had ferried him to the Belize Medical Associates. 7_NEWS_ was there.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
At midnight police had a strong presence in front of the Belize Medical Associates hospital after bringing Aikman in at about 11:45. At about midnight, escorted by a relative, Kim Aikman entered the Medical Associates. Inside she was briefed by police and then went in to see her husband for the first time in 60 hours.
Outside Press Officer G. Michael Reid was debriefed by officer in charge of CIB Aaron Guzman and then gave us an interview.
Aaron Guzman, CIB Commander
"The police hotline received a call about 11 pm tonight and we responded however by the time we responded to the area, the gentleman was already assisted by some civilians and he was found on the Western Highway and so far he was brought to the hospital that we are at right now so that the medical officers
can check on him to see his physical condition."
Jules Vasquez,
In what state was he found sir?
Aaron Guzman,
"At this stage Mr. Vasquez I won't answer that question but health wise he seems to be okay as far as the layman's eyes can see."
Jules Vasquez,
Has he been able to provide any information to you all as to who his captors may have been?
Aaron Guzman,
"Mr. Vasquez, we have not interviewed Mr. Aikman as yet because firstly his life is important so the medical officer has to see him first."
G. Michael Reid,
"Yes indeed police are very very relieved. We are happy to know that he is alive."
After about 45 minutes, the Ombudsman and the entire senior command of the Eastern Division emerged from the hospital - had an onsite strategy session. Much of their investigation will center on what this man has to say. Wellington Thomas was part of a group of young men that found Aikman. Thomas was at a wake at mile 21 when a driver heading down from Belmopan pulled up and told them what he had just seen near mile 23.
Wellington Thomas, Found Derek Aikman
"The SUV hauled up, the guy jumped out and told us he saw a guy down the highway duct taped up and thing and he didn't know what to do. We were like why didn't you stop and pick up the man and he said he doesn't what is the situation and he doesn't want anybody to ambush him. So right away he asked if anyone had a gun or any police in the area. They had one police. So I told him to let's go and see what is happening. He said he wasn't on that so he called the police and said he will wait until the police from either Belmopan or Belize City reach.
So I took it on myself, me and a next brethren, we jumped into a vehicle
and drived up the highway, meet the man hopping around because he was duct taped up and thing, his mouth covered up, duct taped up to his waist. When we took the thing off his mouth, I don't know if he was short of breath or asthma but he couldn't talk good."
Jules Vasquez,
Were his feet tied as well or bound?
Wellington Thomas,
"No. His foot was like free but the duct tape was way down here so he couldn't move his foot and walk."
Jules Vasquez,
How did he react when he saw you all pulling up?
Wellington Thomas,
"Well you can't tell what he was saying because his mouth was duct taped but I figure it was help he was trying to holler. But when we took the duct tape off his mouth, he told us that he was afraid it was the same people who let him go were coming back. That is how scared he was and he was trembling and different things."
Jules Vasquez,
So when he saw you all he was reluctant and first, like kind of scared?
Wellington Thomas,
"He couldn't even see us, he was blindfolded and he had duct tape on his mouth. When we had him in the vehicle we tried to take the duct tape off his mouth and take the stuff off his eye."
Jules Vasquez,
By the time you got to Hattieville, he could have walked and so?
Wellington Thomas,
"He was even more weak when we took him out of the vehicle because we couldn't stand up, we had to carry him."
Jules Vasquez,
When you all identified yourselves as being there to help, how did he react?
Wellington Thomas,
"He barely could talk, like I said he couldn't even catch his breath and he was breathing heavy and thing. We didn't really want to question him and thing because we felt sorry for him and just trying to help."
Jules Vasquez,
You knew who it was?
Wellington Thomas,
"First I didn't know until in Hattieville when someone said it was Derek Aikman and I said we saved a life, that's it."
Jules Vasquez,
You didn't recognize him, you knew that Derek Aikman was missing?
Wellington Thomas,
"I know that, to tell you the truth I didn't know who was Derek Aikman."
Jules Vasquez,
So now how do you feel having participated in this great national story?
Wellington Thomas,
"That big."
It is that big and now that Aikman is safe police have to figure out who's behind it and what kind of precedent it sets.
Neither Aikman nor his wife Kim were available for comment yoday. And because his medical condition had to be normalized, the police also had to wait until late this afternoon to take a statement from him. Press Officer G. Michael Reid says police are looking at all angles.
