( CNN ) -- A British couple kidnapped by pirates has been released after more than a year in captivity , Somali leaders said Sunday . Paul and Rachel Chandler were seized from their yacht in October last year , just after they set sail from the Seychelles Islands for Tanzania . `` They are physically and mentally doing well , and excited to be alive , '' said Mohamed Aden , a local elder in Adado . `` Paul and Rachel Chandler are safe and doing fine . They have had a good shower and they are eating breakfast . '' Aden was one of the key elders involved in helping secure their release . Last year , Paul Chandler pleaded for their life in a two-minute video broadcast on Britain 's Channel 4 . He was surrounded by armed men pointing weapons at him . British couple 's plight as pirate captives . At the time , Chandler said the captors could kill them if a $ 7 million ransom were not paid . `` We are concerned that these people will lose patience and will not feed us -- and I have no doubt that they will not hesitate to kill us , perhaps within a week or so of now if there is no response , '' he said . `` So , please somebody get in touch . Otherwise we just sleepwalk to a tragic ending . '' It was unclear whether a ransom was paid for their release . Last year , British officials refused to pay a ransom or negotiate with pirates . `` The government will not make substantive concessions for hostage takers , including the payments of ransom , '' the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in a statement . Pirates have been very active off the east coast of Africa in the past several years , operating out of lawless Somalia .
Paul and Rachel Chandler were seized from their yacht last year . `` They are physically and mentally doing well , '' a local leader says . It is unclear whether a ransom was paid for their release .