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Surviving Hell: the brutal true story of the Chennai Six
'Truly remarkable' DAMIEN LEWIS
Trapped in a living nightmare, former-para Nick Dunn, one of the 'Chennai Six', was wrongly imprisoned in an Indian jail.
While battling to be heard both at home and abroad, Nick summoned the resilience and endurance of his elite training to survive inhumane conditions, keep himself alive and fight for his right to return home.
Now, he tells his full story of struggle and survival for the very first time.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2020
9 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 27, 2020
Surviving Hell is an eye-opening page-turner reading very much like a thrilling and utterly gripping work of fiction yet this is real life and you really have to keep reminding yourself of that every step of the way. British ex-paratrooper and Afghanisten Veteran Nick Dunn pens a memoir infused with fighting spirit and the importance of finding hope in a seemingly hopeless world. It tells the tale of what happened to Nick and five colleagues in 2013 as they surveilled the waters of the Indian Ocean on the MV Seaman Guard Ohio as part of the response to Somali piracy. Despite having the required permission from the British government to carry weaponry they were all imprisoned for a five year period in Puzhal Central Prison in Chennai, south eastern India. After winning an appeal on their convictions of weapons charges they were released from their prison hell and back into society.
It’s a deeply thought-provoking and absorbing memoir and the first time Nick has ever opened up about this topic. This case of the Chennai Six interests me greatly as someone who holds a law degree but there is much more to it than that. It highlights the human cost of a miscarriage of justice which affects not only the person directly targeted but their family and friends too. It is a tale of triumphing over adversity and keeping the spark of hope alive throughout a dire time. This was a nightmarish experience for the lads from start to finish and illustrates the hit and miss legal system that is in place in India. A courageous and captivating account of lives altered by wrongful charges, this is an intriguing read right from the opening pages. They really did go through hell but they were all reunited with their family in the end. Many thanks to Mirror Books for an ARC.
It’s a deeply thought-provoking and absorbing memoir and the first time Nick has ever opened up about this topic. This case of the Chennai Six interests me greatly as someone who holds a law degree but there is much more to it than that. It highlights the human cost of a miscarriage of justice which affects not only the person directly targeted but their family and friends too. It is a tale of triumphing over adversity and keeping the spark of hope alive throughout a dire time. This was a nightmarish experience for the lads from start to finish and illustrates the hit and miss legal system that is in place in India. A courageous and captivating account of lives altered by wrongful charges, this is an intriguing read right from the opening pages. They really did go through hell but they were all reunited with their family in the end. Many thanks to Mirror Books for an ARC.
May 3, 2020
A harrowing account of a gross miscarriage of justice, as well as a story of moving forward and fighting back against hardships. It baffles me how little the UK Government did to free Dunn (and the others) as quickly as possible, and both he and his sister Lisa say it openly within these pages.
It’s sad to read these stories because it doesn’t really persuade readers like myself to make plans to go on holiday abroad anytime soon, or place trust in other countries or authorities. However, I did find this to be a very important read, especially now. Because if Nick Dunn survived four years stuck in Hell, fighting against negative thoughts and false hopes, then we too can overcome the difficult times we are currently facing.
It’s sad to read these stories because it doesn’t really persuade readers like myself to make plans to go on holiday abroad anytime soon, or place trust in other countries or authorities. However, I did find this to be a very important read, especially now. Because if Nick Dunn survived four years stuck in Hell, fighting against negative thoughts and false hopes, then we too can overcome the difficult times we are currently facing.
April 5, 2020
Nick Dunn is a former British soldier.. After serving his country he decides to take a job in security, specifically on an anti-piracy ship protecting vessels for Somali pirates.
While aboard ship the Indian coastguard board and accuse the men of being in Indian waters with illegal weapons. The men know this to be untrue and believe it will be sorted out quickly…fat chance.. due to the vindictive and corrupt nature of the Indian justice system Nick and the rest of the men are about to be trust into hardship and uncertainty that would break many.
This tale isn’t just about his time in prison.. it’s a reflective look at his life and event that ended up with Nick being in India.. Nick had a lot of time to look back at things.. he doesn’t have regrets.. it’s just a simple series of events that have led him here but he won’t let this get him down.. he has to be strong.
We also learn of Lisa, Nick’s sister who campaigned tirelessly for his release and the amazing connection between the two of them.. a bond that could never be broken no matter the distance.
In the current climate this book is the perfect read.. Nick had to deal with isolation.. had to deal with the stress of things being out of his control.. I know it’s a very different situation but reading about his strength during that time can help you see that things could be worse.. if he made it through so will we.
What amazed me was the telling of his time in jail… you’d be forgiven for thinking he was just imprisoned from day 1… not so.. in and out of jail, on bail, back to jail, freedom of sorts..to have it crushed and forced back to jail seemingly out of spite more than anything..I can’t imagine the stress that must have caused Nick and the other men.
Nick was shockingly let down by many.. just not those closest to him.. his family. It wasn’t an easy ride for them either. As we all know life moves on regardless of events that might happen to you.. how do you balance a life when a member of your family is locked up on false charges.
To say this book is a brilliant read is an understatement.. that seems like the wrong word if you look at the subject matter.. it’s a harrowing tale of corruption and imprisonment but also sheer strength of will.. that in the end sees Nick home with his family.
While aboard ship the Indian coastguard board and accuse the men of being in Indian waters with illegal weapons. The men know this to be untrue and believe it will be sorted out quickly…fat chance.. due to the vindictive and corrupt nature of the Indian justice system Nick and the rest of the men are about to be trust into hardship and uncertainty that would break many.
This tale isn’t just about his time in prison.. it’s a reflective look at his life and event that ended up with Nick being in India.. Nick had a lot of time to look back at things.. he doesn’t have regrets.. it’s just a simple series of events that have led him here but he won’t let this get him down.. he has to be strong.
We also learn of Lisa, Nick’s sister who campaigned tirelessly for his release and the amazing connection between the two of them.. a bond that could never be broken no matter the distance.
In the current climate this book is the perfect read.. Nick had to deal with isolation.. had to deal with the stress of things being out of his control.. I know it’s a very different situation but reading about his strength during that time can help you see that things could be worse.. if he made it through so will we.
What amazed me was the telling of his time in jail… you’d be forgiven for thinking he was just imprisoned from day 1… not so.. in and out of jail, on bail, back to jail, freedom of sorts..to have it crushed and forced back to jail seemingly out of spite more than anything..I can’t imagine the stress that must have caused Nick and the other men.
Nick was shockingly let down by many.. just not those closest to him.. his family. It wasn’t an easy ride for them either. As we all know life moves on regardless of events that might happen to you.. how do you balance a life when a member of your family is locked up on false charges.
To say this book is a brilliant read is an understatement.. that seems like the wrong word if you look at the subject matter.. it’s a harrowing tale of corruption and imprisonment but also sheer strength of will.. that in the end sees Nick home with his family.
November 2, 2020
My review of
SURVIVING HELL
by Nick Dunn
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received an ARC of this book from @netgalley in return for my honest review.
In 2013, the MV Seaman Guard Ohio, a vessel employed on anti-piracy duties in the Indian ocean, was boarded by Indian coastguard and the crew arrested on fabricated weapons charges. Among them were six former British soldiers, including Nick Dunn, veteran of Northern Ireland, Iraq, and Afghanistan. These men would become known as the Chennai Six.
Although it was plain to see that any and all charges against the men were false, the British foreign office did little to push for their release, and their employers had abandoned them to their fates in a country as well known for its corrupt officials as it was for its starving population.
What followed was a four year struggle to clear their names, led by Nick's sister Lisa.
This is a well written narrative of Nick's experiences at the hands of a corrupt system. The entries made by Lisa added a personal perspective to the fight for justice back in the UK, which helped make the story more relatable.
I gave Surviving Hell five stars and am happy to recommend it to anyone with an interest in military non-fiction.
Nick, Respect brother.
SURVIVING HELL
by Nick Dunn
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received an ARC of this book from @netgalley in return for my honest review.
In 2013, the MV Seaman Guard Ohio, a vessel employed on anti-piracy duties in the Indian ocean, was boarded by Indian coastguard and the crew arrested on fabricated weapons charges. Among them were six former British soldiers, including Nick Dunn, veteran of Northern Ireland, Iraq, and Afghanistan. These men would become known as the Chennai Six.
Although it was plain to see that any and all charges against the men were false, the British foreign office did little to push for their release, and their employers had abandoned them to their fates in a country as well known for its corrupt officials as it was for its starving population.
What followed was a four year struggle to clear their names, led by Nick's sister Lisa.
This is a well written narrative of Nick's experiences at the hands of a corrupt system. The entries made by Lisa added a personal perspective to the fight for justice back in the UK, which helped make the story more relatable.
I gave Surviving Hell five stars and am happy to recommend it to anyone with an interest in military non-fiction.
Nick, Respect brother.
April 2, 2020
Brilliant true account by Nick Dunn, one of the Chennai Six, of his time in India following bogus charges brought against him and 34 others when he was employed as a security guard on a foreign ship.
This book details Nick’s hellish journey, via his time as a paratrooper, when he spent four years in India facing trumped up charges for straying into Indian waters and possession of illegal weapons. Both charges were clearly nonsense, but the Indian authorities were doggedly pursuing them despite no evidence to support them.
Although I was already aware of the background of this story, having followed it on the news at the time, this was a fascinating and heartbreaking read. Nick and his sister Lisa both detail their experience so very well.
I would highly recommend this book to people who already know of the story of the Chennai six and to those coming completely afresh to this story.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book details Nick’s hellish journey, via his time as a paratrooper, when he spent four years in India facing trumped up charges for straying into Indian waters and possession of illegal weapons. Both charges were clearly nonsense, but the Indian authorities were doggedly pursuing them despite no evidence to support them.
Although I was already aware of the background of this story, having followed it on the news at the time, this was a fascinating and heartbreaking read. Nick and his sister Lisa both detail their experience so very well.
I would highly recommend this book to people who already know of the story of the Chennai six and to those coming completely afresh to this story.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2021
This very personal account of a horrific experience at the hands of callous Indian Police and officials sets the emotional motor running. Anger and frustration burned through me as I read about Nick's ordeal, and how the crew of 35 men from his ship were treated so inhumanely and afforded no sympathy, mercy, or right to justice.
The way Nick's groundless captivity, in shocking conditions, affected his family adds another layer to the emotion and it was heart-breaking to read how his clearly loving and close family suffered every bit as much as he did.
The book is fantastically well put together, blending Nick's first-hand account with the experiences of his sister, who campaigned for his release tirelessly from back home. This book is more than an interesting and emotive story to pass the time with, it is an emotional roller-coaster that will truly give you something to think about, and force you to cherish what you have. Highly recommended.
The way Nick's groundless captivity, in shocking conditions, affected his family adds another layer to the emotion and it was heart-breaking to read how his clearly loving and close family suffered every bit as much as he did.
The book is fantastically well put together, blending Nick's first-hand account with the experiences of his sister, who campaigned for his release tirelessly from back home. This book is more than an interesting and emotive story to pass the time with, it is an emotional roller-coaster that will truly give you something to think about, and force you to cherish what you have. Highly recommended.
May 5, 2020
so, just finished reading surviving hell, Nick Dunn's story of being falsely imprisoned in india. like hundreds of others i followed the story closely.. but never dreamed of what it would really be like for him.. at the time i was always scared to ask paul or lisa in case it upset them.
reading the story from nick and Lisa's words has been totally different, i actually filled up in a few places thinking of how i or may family feel in that situation or even if i could get through it!
the book is a good example that with the right mindset you can get through the darkest days.. i recommend you read it.
reading the story from nick and Lisa's words has been totally different, i actually filled up in a few places thinking of how i or may family feel in that situation or even if i could get through it!
the book is a good example that with the right mindset you can get through the darkest days.. i recommend you read it.
November 11, 2020
Wow, just wow - brilliant book with an exceptional story. I would not usually gravitate towards this genre but I honestly couldn’t put it down. The mix of Nick’s experience in India and Lisa’s experience back in the UK added context and made it very human.
Will 100% be recommending this to friends and family.
Will 100% be recommending this to friends and family.
February 1, 2021
A fantastic book(this is not a story as Hansel and Grettle is a story). The brutal harsh reality of facing a prison sentence abroad for a crime you did not commit is hard for anyone so to read what this guy and others had to endure makes us lucky we will never ever find ourselves in that situation.
January 31, 2021
Excellent book about corruption, injustice and the fight for freedom.
December 28, 2023
Repetitive, self glorifying and essentially tells us how closed doors open for u around the world if u have the good fortune of being a white man or woman.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews