An Australian man who was held hostage in Africa says a couple abducted in Burkina Faso by suspected Islamic extremists would be in shock over their ordeal.
Dr Ken Elliot and wife Jocelyn, originally from Perth and aged in their 80s, are believed to have been abducted in the west African country's north following an attack on the capital of Ouagadougou on Friday in which 28 people were killed.
Nigel Brennan, who was held for ransom for over a year by Somalian gunmen from 2008 to 2009, believes the couple would be "struggling", telling the Nine Network's Today Show he was in disbelief in the early stages of his kidnapping.
"I kept saying to myself, `This isn't actually happening'," Mr Brennan said.
"My thoughts go out with them. They must be struggling at this point in time."
Mr Brennan, a photojournalist, believed it was unlikely the couple's Christian faith would adversely affect their situation, saying the hostage-takers may see their belief in God as a "good thing".
Mr Brennan, who was critical of the then-Rudd government's handling of his own situation, hoped the federal government was talking to the kidnappers about options for release.
But he noted it was illegal for the government to pay any ransom.
"I think the Liberals will definitely handle it better than what Kevin Rudd's government did," he said.
"They seem to be on the ball fairly quickly with this.
"Hopefully the government is talking to them [the hostage-takers] about other options that the family can work with ... and move the case forward," he said.
The couple moved to the country in 1972 and established a medical clinic in the northern Burkina Faso town of Djibo.
A family statement released through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said they had "dedicated their lives" to helping the people of the region.
The search for the couple continues.
