A Swiss wildlife photographer who was being held hostage by an Islamic separatist group in the Philippines snatched a machete from a captor's hands, cut his throat and ran to safety under a hail of gunfire, military officials said.
Lorenzo Vinciguerra, 49, made the daring escape as government troops attacked the Abu Sayyaf camp on the remote island of Jolo, authorities said.
Vinciguerra and Dutch photographer Ewold Horn were captured in February 2012 during a bird-watching expedition in Tawi-Tawi province.
A military representative said Vinciguerra was shot by a militant and wounded in the left cheek before being rescued by government troops.
Vinciguerra called to Horn to run but Horn was too sick and weak to escape.
Military officials say Abu Sayyaf is still holding 10 hostages in the area.
Vinciguerra was being treated at a military hospital and is expected to return to Switzerland.
