Tragic: Journalist Tim Hetherington of ‘Vanity Fair’ Killed in Libya (video)
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on April 20, 2011
Breaking news… The war in Libya has claimed the life of war filmmaker and award-winning journalist Tim Hetherington.
He was killed today by a rocket-propelled grenade in the war-ravaged Libyan city of Misrata, the third-largest city in the country. Three other photographers were wounded and two are in grave condition. Chris Hondros, a senior correspondent for Getty images and Hetherington’s friend, suffered a massive head wound.
Rest in peace, Tim — prayers go to his family and friends during this heart-wrenching time.
Journalist Tim Hetherington Killed in Libya | April 20, 2011
From MSNBC, Renowned war filmmaker killed in Libya:
British photojournalist Tim Hetherington, whose documentary film on the war in Afghanistan was nominated for an Oscar, was killed in the embattled western city of Misrata, Vanity Fair confirmed on Wednesday.
Three others working beside him were wounded by fire from a rocket propelled grenade, according to media reports. Two of the photographers — Chris Hondros and Guy Martin — were reportedly in grave condition.
Telegraph TV: Libya: Colleague of British photojournalist Hetherington recalls moment they came under fire in Misrata
MSNBC: Photojournalist Tim Hetherington Killed in Misrata After Grenade Attack
From NY Daily News, ‘Restrepo’ filmmaker Tim Hetherington killed in Libya; photographer Chris Hondros gravely wounded:
Two of the world’s most acclaimed war photographers, both based in Brooklyn, were caught in shelling in Libya on Wednesday.
Tim Hetherington of Vanity Fair, the Brooklyn-based director of this year’s Oscar-nominated Afghanistan documentary “Restrepo,” was killed.
There were conflicting reports about the fate of his buddy, Chris Hondros, a senior correspondent for Getty images who suffered a massive head wound.
Friends on the scene initially reported that he had died, but the Associated Press, Reuters and the New York Times later quoted doctors saying he was clinging to life.
According to the Washington Post, which had a reporter at the clinic, doctors said shrapnel hit Hondros in the forehead and passed through the back of his head during the rocket attack by Col. Moammar Khadafy’s forces.
Hetherington, 41, tweeted until the end.
His last message, sent Tuesday: “In besieged Libyan city of Misrata. Indiscriminate shelling by Khadafy forces. No sign of NATO.”
NATO has taken over the task of protecting civilians from Khadafy’s military but has been criticized for not being aggressive enough about bombing regime forces.
Hetherington’s last tweet message before he was killed, h/t The Blaze:
From The Blaze, U.S. Journalist Killed in Libya:
A doctor in the besieged city of Misrata says a Western photographer has been killed and another seriously wounded while covering battles between rebels and Libyan government forces.
According to Fox News, the deceased photographer is Tim Hetherington, who was nominated for an Oscar this year for his documentary “Restrepo,” a film about US troops in Afghanistan.
The doctor says two other journalists were injured Wednesday inside the only opposition-held city in western Libya, which has come under weeks of relentless shelling by government troops. The doctor works at a private clinic where the dead and wounded were brought. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of fears of government reprisals.
From ABC News, Tim Hetherington’s Courage Under Fire:
Award-winning war photographer Tim Hetherington was killed today in the Libyan city of Misrata, where rebels have been trying to hold off a brutal assault by the Libyan army. A statement from his family said he was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade.
In a message sent from his Twitter account yesterday, his first tweet in months, Hetherington wrote: “In besieged Libyan city of Misrata. Indiscriminate shelling by Qaddafi forces. No sign of NATO.”
Hetherington went wherever there was conflict and danger, mindful of the risks, but determined to capture the truth of what he saw.
Our investigative unit was honored to have the chance to work with him. Hetherington’s most memorable work was in Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008, on assignment for ABC News’ “Nightline” and “Vanity Fair” magazine, along with reporter Sebastian Junger. Neither flinched under fire.
Update on the city of Misrata, where Hetherington was killed, reported by BBC:
While parts of Libya’s northern coast have been changing hands from day to day, the conflict in Misrata has turned into a lethal stand-off.
Weeks of heavy bombardments by forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi have failed to break the deadlock.
This is explained partly by the size of Misrata, Libya’s third-largest city.
It is the only significant western rebel holdout, and is strategically important because of its deep-sea port, so rebels have fought hard to defend it.
They have a large pool of potential manpower. Many among the 300,000 population have hardened in their opposition to Col Gaddafi during what Western leaders have compared to a “medieval siege”, residents say.
The rebels have a lifeline through the port, which has been fired on but has continued to receive supplies of food, medicine and reportedly arms, while serving as an evacuation point for the injured and for trapped migrant workers.
And they have local knowledge – one reason Col Gaddafi’s forces may have been unwilling or unable to engage in decisive open battles.
“The rebels know the entrances and exits to the city very well, they know how to take cover,” a medic who lives in Misrata told the BBC.
Film trailer of Hetherington’s acclaimed film below… summary of film posted on YouTube:
Winner of the 2010 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize for a Documentary, RESTREPO chronicles the deployment of a U.S. platoon of courageous American soldiers in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley, considered to be one of the most dangerous postings in the U.S. military. From May 2007 to July 2008, Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger dug in with the men of the Second Platoon, Battle Company of the 503rd Infantry Regiment (airborne), stationed at Restrepo, sharing duties and shooting more than 150 hours of combat, frustration, routine, jokes, terror and bravery during daily life at the outpost. Hetherington and Junger, have made a film unlike any other about men in harm’s way. We see their courage. We experience their frustrations. We share their bonding. We hear the music they listen to, and we see the snapshots of their kids that they pass around. It is something that audiences have never before experienced. As they fight the Taliban, these 15 men win our hearts and minds in a way no fictional film can.
Restrepo – Trailer
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This is says that Libya is not safe at this time foreigners who are living Libya now they have to leave that country unless they cant live safely because now Libya has no leadership the other countries have to try to discuss with the Libyan government and opposition leaders to bring them for peace talks.
This is ridiculous this shows that now the situation in Libya i think these incidents will continue until Libyan government fell down international community should think on Libya how to solve this problem and surrounding countries of Libya have to try to solve this problem mainly the government immediately resign and put elections.