on the line, the mayor of a small town on basilan island.it's for you," the agent told gerfa. >> the mayor said, "mrs. lunsmann?" i was like, "yeah?" "kevin is out." i said, "what? what?" it was just like chaos after that. and then when i talked to him i was like, kevin. "hi, mom, this is kevin." you know, he just sound so good. it was just beautiful. it sounds like my son. that's my son. >> reporter: kevin was free. but how? >> it's the craziest turn of my life probably. i didn't think it was ever going to happen. >> reporter: here he is, kevin lunsmann. now in his 20s, this is his amazing story. which began a moment before the kidnappers took his mom away, when she leaned forward and whispered in his ear. >> i remember her words exactly. she said, "you have to get home to your father. you have to go back home." and that made me realize that she might be thinking that she may not make it tonight. >> that she might be taken away to be killed? >> yes. i just wanted to cry. and i didn't -- i didn't want to lose her. >> reporter: soon after tha