The only woman among 15 British sailors and marines held by Iran said in an interview published yesterday she had been asked how she felt about dying for her country and feared she was being measured for a coffin.

Faye Turney told Britain's top-selling Sun tabloid in her first interview since the 15 were released by Iran on Thursday after 13 days in detention that she was threatened with years in prison as a spy unless she did what her captors wanted.

Turney said one morning she heard wood being sawn and nails hammered near her cell and a woman measured her with a tape. "I was convinced they were making my coffin," she told The Sun.