MANILA: A Swiss hostage made a dramatic escape Saturday from Abu Sayyaf rebels when he hacked a rebel commander and then got shot as he dashed to freedom amid a military bombardment, ending more than two years of jungle captivity in the southern Philippines, officials said.

Lorenzo Vinciguerra, 49, made his daring escape while government forces were firing artillery rounds near the jungle forest where he was being held in mountainous Patikul town in Sulu province. He grabbed a long knife, hacked an Abu Sayyaf commander and then ran away, but was shot and wounded by another militant, security officials said.

Philippine Army scout rangers later found him and escorted him to safety.

“He was wounded, but he’s well and recovering in a hospital,” regional military commander Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero said by phone.

In Bern, the Swiss government expressed relief that Vinciguerra had regained his freedom, but regretted that his Dutch companion remained in captivity.