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HOLIDAY KIDNAP RESCUE

Female US tourist, 35, abducted by gunmen at Uganda’s most popular safari park found ‘safe and well’

Kimberly Sue Endicott, 35, was snatched when four gunmen hijacked a tour group on a game drive at Queen Elizabeth National Park

A FEMALE American tourist was last night rescued after being kidnapped by armed bandits who ambushed a safari park van in Uganda.

Kimberly Sue Endicott, 35, was found "safe and well" on Sunday - four days after she was snatched by four gunmen at Queen Elizabeth National Park.

 Kimberly Sue Endicott, 35, was snatched by armed gunmen
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Kimberly Sue Endicott, 35, was snatched by armed gunmenCredit: Social Media
She appeared to be in shock as she shook the hand of Wild Frontiers Uganda director Paul Goldring
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She appeared to be in shock as she shook the hand of Wild Frontiers Uganda director Paul GoldringCredit: @Wild Frontiers Uganda
 Cops said the gunmen abducted Kimberly and guide Jean Paul Mirenge who was driving
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Cops said the gunmen abducted Kimberly and guide Jean Paul Mirenge who was drivingCredit: Facebook

Cops said the gunmen abducted Kimberly and guide Jean Paul Mirenge who was driving.

Soldiers are still hunting the gang, who used her mobile phone to demand a £380,000 ransom.

The bandits struck between 6pm and 7pm on 2 April between the Katoke Gate and the Wilderness Camp, one of the plush resorts inside the park.

Two other people left behind in the van - an elderly couple - were able to call for help after the gunmen left with the hostages.

HOSTAGE HORROR

The Uganda tourism board said last week: "The outlaws put the occupants under gun point and abducted two of them: a Ugandan driver and an American citizen.

“The other occupants of the van who were left behind managed to contact a few people, who came to their rescue.

“All security agencies such as the Uganda Police and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces including wardens from the Uganda Wildlife Authority have joined in the hunt for these outlaws with the main aim of safely securing the hostages.

“The lives of the kidnapped are a key priority during this process. We appeal for calm as we find a lasting solution to this issue.”

The US state Department said: “We are aware of reports of a US citizen kidnapped in Uganda.

"Security forces are responding to the incident. We have no further information to offer at this time."

Queen Elizabeth National Park covers more than 760 square miles in East Africa's Rift Valley.

Chimps and tree-climbing lions are among the popular wildlife in the park, which includes grassland, forest, lakes and volcanoes.

Guests in the Ishasha Wilderness Camp sleep in luxury tents each with private verandahs overlooking the Ntungwe river.

 Bandits ambushed a tour group on a game drive at Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda
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Bandits ambushed a tour group on a game drive at Queen Elizabeth National Park in UgandaCredit: Alamy
 Safari tourists can hope to spot chimps and lions in the game reserve
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Safari tourists can hope to spot chimps and lions in the game reserveCredit: Alamy
Brigadier Richard Karemire said soldiers are trying to catch the bandits and free the hostages
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Brigadier Richard Karemire said soldiers are trying to catch the bandits and free the hostagesCredit: Youtube


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