A Swiss wildlife photographer who was held hostage by Islamic extremists for more than two years has dramatically escaped by cutting his captor's throat with a machete.

Hostage Lorenzo Vinciguerra bravely fled from his kidnappers during a clash between insurgents and governments troops in the southern Philippines.

The 49-year-old and Dutch photographer Ewold Horn had been captured in February 2012 by rebels of the Aby Sayyaf group while on a bird-watching trip in Tawi-Tawi province.

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Hostage Lorenzo Vinciguerra, 49, who has been held captive for more than two years, managed to escape from his kidnappers during a clash between insurgents and governments troops in the southern Philippines

As gunfire broke out, the photographer wrestled with his guard to grab the weapon. He is seen being transferred to Zamboanga city, inside a military camp in Jolo, Sulu province, after his escape

Today, a Philippine officer revealed how, as gunfire broke out between the two sides in the remote jungle where he was kept, the photographer began wrestling with his guard to grab the machete.

Despite being wounded on his left cheek during the attack, Mr Vinciguerra finally prised the machete from the guard's hand and managed to slit his neck.

He then fled from his abductors, who had been keeping him on the southern island of Jolo, Mindanao.

Talking to reporters by text message, Colonel Allan Arrojado, commander of the army's Joint Task Group on the island of Sulu, said: 'He dashed while other bandits were shooting at him.'

Mr Vinciguerra is greeted by the Ivo Sieber, the Swiss ambassador to the Philippines, after arriving in Pasay city following his escape from the terrorists

During his escape Mr Vinciguerra was wounded on the left side of the face and was treated by ambulance crews. though is said to be in good shape considering the circumstances

Mr Vinciguerra managed to flee two years of captivity after slitting a terrorist's throat during fighting between rebels and government troops

Another man, Dutch photographer Ewold Horn, was being held alongside Mr Vinciguerra but was too weak to flee his captors when the moment came

According to Arrojado, Mr Vinciguerra also shouted at Mr Horn run but the Dutch man was said to have been 'very sick and very weak' and unable to escape.

He added that there was no word on Horn's whereabouts.

Switzerland's Foreign Ministry said Mr Vinciguerra was in good health considering the circumstances.

He is still in the custody of the Philippines armed forces and will return to Switzerland as soon as possible, he said.

In a statement, the ministry added that it greatly regretted that Horn was 'still in captivity'. It did not elaborate further.

The Swiss man had been captured by rebels of the Aby Sayyaf group alongside Dutch photographer Ewold Horn, 52, during a bird-watching trip in February 2012

Mr Vinciguerra was treated for a wounded cheek which he sustained during his dramatic escape

Mr Vinciguerra arrived at the military hospital on a stretcher following his escape from abductors on the southern island of Jolo

He remains in the custody of the Philippines armed forces and will return to Switzerland as soon as possible

The Philippines armed forces said five militants were killed and seven wounded in the firefight.

The two European wildlife photographers were taken captive in Tawi-Tawi province as they were sailing on a bird-watching trip in February 2012.

The Abu Sayyaf is holding several other foreign and Filipino hostages.

The military launched an offensive against the Abu Sayyaf in October after the rebels released two German nationals they seized in April.

The Abu Sayyaf are the most notorious of several rebels factions in the Muslim south of the largely Christian Philippines.