Swiss photographer held hostage by Islamist extremists escapes by cutting captor's throat (Photos)

A Swiss wildlife photographer who was held hostage by Islamic extremists for more than two years has dramatically escaped to his freedom by cutting his captor's throat with a machete.

According to Mailonline, hostage Lorenzo Vinciguerra bravely fled from his kidnappers during a clash between insurgents and governments troops in the southern Philippines.

The 49-year-old and Dutch photographer Ewold Horn had been captured in February 2012 by rebels of the Aby Sayyaf group while on a bird-watching trip in Tawi-Tawi province.


Today, a Philippine officer revealed how, as gunfire broke out between the two sides in the remote jungle where he was kept, the photographer began wrestling with his guard to grab the machete.

Despite being wounded on his left cheek during the attack, Mr Vinciguerra finally prised the machete from the guard's hand and managed to slit his neck.He added that there was no word on Horn's whereabouts.