Judas
13-06-2005, 19:33
WINDHOEK, Namibia (AP) -- An international film team
that apparently went missing while on assignment in a
remote part of Namibia was found safe Saturday in a
bizarre case said to involve a Hollywood sex guru, a
Russian Rambo, a British pilot and African witchcraft.
U.S. and British diplomatic officials said Saturday
that five foreign nationals -- including two
Americans, one British, one South African and a
Russian -- were located in the Epupa region of
northwestern Namibia.
"The crew members were rescued this afternoon, and
they are generally in good health," said U.S. Embassy
spokesman Stan Harsher.
A British High Commission official, speaking on
customary condition of anonymity, concurred and said
the embassy hoped to speak to the crew on Sunday.
U.S. and British officials could not confirm what the
group was doing in Namibia, or the circumstances of
their apparent disappearance, which was reported
earlier this week.
A Los Angeles-based publicist, Sherri Spillane, said
the team went missing after being chased out of a
village where they were trying to film a documentary
on witchcraft. A helicopter pilot sent to collect the
team failed to connect with them, she said.
start quoteThe crew members were rescued this
afternoon, and they are generally in good health.end
quote
Spillane, who represents a number of well-known
reality TV participants, identified the missing as Los
Angeles pilot Christopher Banninger, British-born
businessman Mike Edson, Russian actor and fighter Oleg
Taktarov, South African athlete K.J. Lodge, and a
Hollywood sex therapist and radio host who goes by the
name of Natasha Terry.
However, local officials and regional newspapers
voiced doubt about the whole scenario.
The claims were barely reported in the Namibian press,
and South Africa's Cape Argus newspaper reported
Saturday: "No one is quite sure ... whether it's all
an elaborate reality show hoax."
that apparently went missing while on assignment in a
remote part of Namibia was found safe Saturday in a
bizarre case said to involve a Hollywood sex guru, a
Russian Rambo, a British pilot and African witchcraft.
U.S. and British diplomatic officials said Saturday
that five foreign nationals -- including two
Americans, one British, one South African and a
Russian -- were located in the Epupa region of
northwestern Namibia.
"The crew members were rescued this afternoon, and
they are generally in good health," said U.S. Embassy
spokesman Stan Harsher.
A British High Commission official, speaking on
customary condition of anonymity, concurred and said
the embassy hoped to speak to the crew on Sunday.
U.S. and British officials could not confirm what the
group was doing in Namibia, or the circumstances of
their apparent disappearance, which was reported
earlier this week.
A Los Angeles-based publicist, Sherri Spillane, said
the team went missing after being chased out of a
village where they were trying to film a documentary
on witchcraft. A helicopter pilot sent to collect the
team failed to connect with them, she said.
start quoteThe crew members were rescued this
afternoon, and they are generally in good health.end
quote
Spillane, who represents a number of well-known
reality TV participants, identified the missing as Los
Angeles pilot Christopher Banninger, British-born
businessman Mike Edson, Russian actor and fighter Oleg
Taktarov, South African athlete K.J. Lodge, and a
Hollywood sex therapist and radio host who goes by the
name of Natasha Terry.
However, local officials and regional newspapers
voiced doubt about the whole scenario.
The claims were barely reported in the Namibian press,
and South Africa's Cape Argus newspaper reported
Saturday: "No one is quite sure ... whether it's all
an elaborate reality show hoax."