Daily Mail: Former Iran hostage Faye Turney has quit her ship and returned home after finding life “difficult” on board, it was claimed today. The Daily Mail
Former Iran hostage Faye Turney has quit her ship and returned home after finding life “difficult” on board, it was claimed today.
The 26-year-old sailor returned to HMS Cornwall in the wake of the crisis but left after just 14 days and is now permanently based on shore, according to a source.
Turney – the only female hostage captured by the Iranians – was paid a reported £80,000 for her story which she promised to share with some of her shipmates.
But it was later claimed she had failed to hand over any money which caused bad feeling on board the Class 22 Frigate.
Sources on the ship now claim Leading Seaman Turney spent just two weeks on board before returning home permanently.
The claims have been made amid rumours HMS Cornwall is set to return to her UK base on August 26.
The source told the Herald newspaper in Plymouth : “She’s (Faye Turney) definitely shore-based now. It may have been a bit difficult for her on the boat.”
HMS Cornwall made headlines around the world in March when seven Royal Marines and eight sailors were arrested at gunpoint.
They were released two weeks later but were allowed to sell their stories to newspapers – a decision which was slammed by senior Royal Navy officials.
Sources say the ship is set to return to Devonport Naval Base in Plymouth, Devon, where she will be met by the crew’s family.
Mother-of-one Faye Turney, however, is not expected to be present as part of the official “welcome home” party.
Leading Operator Mechanic Arthur Batchelor, 21, the youngest hostage and dubbed “Mr Bean” by his captors, will be on the ship when it arrives home.
His godmother Bea Reygan, of Plymouth, Devon, said he quickly settled back into life on board the ship.
She said: “He had the biggest rollicking of his life and quickly settled in again. He telephones us every couple of weeks and he says that he’s doing fine.
“He’s just put his head down and got on with his job.”
Faye Turney’s husband, Adam Turney, of Tamerton Foliot, Devon, has refused to comment on the situation.
A spokesman for the MoD said it did not comment on ship’s movements while on active duty.
HMS Cornwall left Devonport on January 22 for patrol duties in the Northern Arabian Gulf.
The group were seized at gunpoint after inspecting an Iraqi boat and returning to their two small boats to head back to the Cornwall.
