Living in a Hole: The Peter Shaw Story

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BBC Radio Wales - Living in a Hole: The Peter Shaw Story

The story of Peter Shaw, the Welshman who was kidnapped and forced to live in a hole

The story of Peter Shaw, the Welshman who was kidnapped in Georgia and forced to live in a small black hole for nearly six months in 2002.

Peter Shaw was kidnapped and held at gunpoint in Georgia in 2002. 

The banker from Cowbridge who was 57 at the time, was held in a filthy cellar, just 6ft 6in by 4ft 10in, for nearly 6 months. He'd been working in the former Soviet state when he was dragged off the streets of Tbilisi just a few days before he was due to fly home.

In this special programme, Peter tells his powerful and moving story, detailing his shocking ordeal which saw him survive in an underground hole in pitch dark. The only light being a few minutes from a candle until the wax melted each day.

He was bitten by flies and had to cope with slugs and rats and was starved of any human contact except for two daily deliveries of food through a small hatch.

Peter’s kidnappers demanded a 2 million dollar ransom.

He was eventually freed without any warning and thrust into the spotlight in Georgia.

Just how did Peter cope?

This programme also hear from his family, key investigators trying to negotiate his release and a psychologist.

Producer: Ashley Byrne

Living in a Hole: The Peter Shaw Story is an MIM Production for BBC Radio Wales.

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