Abducted by pirates for $45 million ransom

American aid worker Jessica Buchanan was held captive in the Somali desert for 93 days. Her captors were heavily-armed pirates who initially demanded a $45 million ransom. She describes the harrowing ordeal and dramatic rescue to Anderson Cooper in an in-depth interview.

In her last "proof of life" call to her family on January 16, Buchanan told them she had an infection and urgently needed medication to survive. For months she had become weak from exposure to the elements and little food or clean water. That call set in motion the rescue operation that would end her nightmare.

Buchanan says she had no idea anybody knew where she and her Danish colleague were being held. She never imagined President Obama was aware of her imprisonment and location.

In January 2012, U.S. Navy’s SEAL Team Six saved Buchanan in the dark of night. They were so quiet as they approached that she thought the men were beetles. When the silence erupted into gunfire she feared she was being kidnapped by a terrorist group.

Buchanan was shocked when one of her rescuers said her name in an American accent. "Everything is very dark and he says 'We're the American military and we're here to save you. We're here to take you home," she recounts.

Watch the interview to learn more about Buchanan's story and what happened after her heroes found her. Here’s the AC360 411 on the elite SEAL Team Six:

• 1980: The year SEAL Team Six was created, after the failed U.S. effort to rescue American diplomats held hostage in Iran.
• 200: Estimated members of SEAL Team Six, who are silently recruited. There’s no application process.
• 2,500: Total estimated number of SEALs on active duty, only the best are chosen for SEAL Team Six.
• Only men between the ages of 26 and 33 try out to join the SEALs.
• 75% don’t make it through the two years of SEAL training.
• Other SEAL Team Six missions: