Apr 17, 2009 6:56 am US/Eastern
NYC Seaman Tells Of Ordeal Battling Somali Pirates
Maersk Alabama Crew Member William Rios Gives CBS 2 HD Exclusive Details Of Nightmare On Indian Ocean
By JOSH LANDIS, CBS 2 HD News
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Among the emotionally drained but elated crew members of the Maersk Alabama who returned to the US Thursday is New York native William Rios.
CBS
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Capt. Phillips was reportedly resting comfortably on a U.S. warship after receiving a medical exam after his rescue.
United States Navy
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U.S. cargo ship the Maersk Alabama prepares to berth in the Kenyan coastal city port of Mombasa on April 11, 2009.
Robert Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images
William Rios has been back in New York just a few hours, but he's already a local hero.
On Thursday night the 41-year-old merchant seaman described his encounter with pirates in one word: hell.
Rios shared with CBS 2 HD exclusive new details on how the pirate attack went down.
"When the pirates found out there was an American they was clapping, because there's money here. Yes, big money," Rios said.
He said before Capt. Richard Phillips was taken hostage the crew of the cargo ship captured one of the pirates -- and there was supposed to be an exchange.
"The captain's idea was to jump off [into] the water and swim to us, but they decided to keep the captain for $3 million," Rios said.
Rios said as he was enduring hell off the coast of Africa it was prayers at the Second St. John Baptist Church in Harlem, his home congregation, which kept him going.
"Oh we're happy, we're rejoicing, we're gonna be over-rejoiced when he comes back on Sunday," Pastor Robert Jones said.
Rios and his wife, Sherry, have already started their celebration.
"We held each other. He carried me for two feet then had to put me down. It was a great reunion. I cried. I rejoiced. I was so happy," Sherry Rios said.
Rios said even though pirates boarded his ship -- at no time did the crew lose control.
"The whole crew from the Alabama is a hero -- the whole crew. It took the whole crew to overtake the pirates," Rios said.
He also said the U.S. should be more aggressive protecting cargo ships.
"Something's happening too much now. These people are getting too much money. They're too bright. They're not afraid. Pretty soon they'll control the waters," Rios said.
But Rios isn't afraid either. He said he'd go back in a second.
"Oh yes. If they call me next week I'm gonna go. I'm a sailor," Rios said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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