(May 19, 2002): A Palm Springs man who gained international attention in November when he was kidnapped and tortured by Colombian guerrillas returned home flanked by dozens of supporters on motorcycles.
Heggstad, 49, left Palm Springs on Oct. 1. But on Nov. 6 his 20,000-mile round trip motorcycle journey to the southern tip of South America was interrupted along a mountain road between Medellin and Bogota.
The 6-foot-4 judo instructor and Palm Springs resident said he was tortured, starved, endured mock executions and forced to dig his own grave before being released December 8 to Red Cross officials.
Heggstad believes the mental and physical disciplines he practices in his martial arts career helped him survive.
While friends worried about his safety, they also expressed confidence in Heggstad’s ability to survive the worst, in part because of his intensive training in the martial arts.
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