The American ship captain held by pirates on a lifeboat off Somalia tried to escape by jumping into the sea and swimming toward a U.S. warship, but was quickly recaptured, U.S. media reported on Friday.

Citing defense sources, CBS, ABC and CNN said Captain Richard Phillips, who is being held on a lifeboat adrift in the Indian Ocean, jumped overboard, but did not get far.

He was captured by the armed pirates and pulled back into the lifeboat, within view of a U.S. warship, they reported.

CNN said that U.S. officials believe Phillips was unhurt in the escape attempt.

Four pirates have been holding Phillips since a foiled bid to hijack his container ship, the 17,000-tonne Maersk Alabama, several hundred miles off Somalia.

Phillips apparently volunteered to get in the lifeboat with the pirates to act as a hostage and secure the safety of his 20 American crew members, who managed to retake control of their ship.

The freighter, which is carrying food aid for Uganda and Somalia, is now on its way to Kenya, its original destination.

The USS Bainbridge is close to the lifeboat and has called on the FBI and other U.S. officials to help negotiate with the pirates.

CNN said two more U.S. warships were on their way to join the destroyer.