Living On The Edge

Being kidnapped by pirates isn’t the only dramatic incident in the life of diver Philip Durdey, discovers CATHERINE COURTENAY.

- Catherine Courtenay

WHEN he went in the pub and recounted stories about his life, people would tell Philip Durdey: “You should write a book.” And that was before the kidnapping.

Philip, who’s from Kingsbridge, is only in his early forties, but so far he’s managed to survive several near death experiences, heroin addiction and rehab, and a gunpoint kidnapping. He also happens to have one of the most challenging and dangerous jobs, that of a deep sea saturation diver.

“Mum thinks I have a bit of a self destruct button,” he says, before admitting: “But I do crave adventure.”

Encouraged by the pub regulars, Philip did indeed write a book. $500,000,000 and some Goats was published last year and was inspired by the horrifying ordeal of being taken by Nigerian militants when he was working off the coast of Africa in 2007. It was his first diving job and the final day of work before he was due to return home, when the pipe-laying barge was boarded. Philip and a small group of colleagues were captured and taken deep into the jungle where they were held in appalling conditions and with constant death threats, for over two weeks.

His account of what happened to him makes for a gripping read; he describes the dangers, the conditions they had to survive in, along with the constant emotional and physical strain.