‘Restrepo’ Director Killed In Libya
Tim Hetherington, who produced and co-directed the excellent Oscar-nominated documentary Restrepo about one American platoon’s experiences in Afghanistan over the course of a year, has been killed during a battle in Misrata, Libya:
BENGHAZI, Libya — Tim Hetherington, the Oscar-nominated film director and conflict photographer who produced the film “Restrepo,” was killed in the besieged city of Misurata on Wednesday, and three photographers working beside him were wounded.
The wounds to two of the photographers — Chris Hondros and Guy Martin — were grave, according to a colleague at the triage center where they were being treated Wednesday night. Their prospects for survival were not immediately clear.
Mr. Hondros, an American working for the Getty photo agency, suffered a severe brain injury and was in extremely critical condition, according to a colleague who was with at the triage center. He had been revived and was clinging to life in the evening, the colleague said.
Mr. Martin, a British citizen working for the Panos photo agency, had shrapnel wounds and was undergoing vascular surgery Wednesday night, according to the same account. He was in surgery Wednesday night.
The fourth photographer, Michael Christopher Brown, suffered shrapnel injuries but his life was not in danger.
Misurata, Libya’s third largest city, has been cut off by land from the rest of Libya by military forces loyal to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi. It has been the scene of intensive, close-quarters fighting for weeks. Hundreds of Libyans have been confirmed killed.
Sad news indeed, Hetherington and his co-workers did excellent work in Restrepo (which I recommend seeing if you haven’t) and they’ve met an all too common fate for war correspondents.
I saw the name earlier on Twitter but didn’t make the connection. Restrepo is in my Netflix on Demand queue but we haven’t gotten around to watching yet.
I served with the 173d Airborne Brigade in Viet Nam.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
RIP
Restrepo is very good. Sad news.
Wow, this saddens me far more than I thought it would have. What a real shame.
We go into this valley. Set up a secure fire post. Show the troops playing around and having fun. Show all their high tech play toys. Get the locals upset with us. Make promises that both sides know can’t be kept. Go out on patrol. Get ambushed. Call in airstrikes and kill civilians. Then at the end of the year pull out. Nothing accomplished but some dead locals and bad pr. Nam all over again. That’s why we lost then, that’s why we will loose now.
Hope I didn’t ruin the movie for anyone.
I will fear no evil: for I am the evilest S.O.B in the valley. How many times have I saw that one.
JJ, just go ahead and buy it (and while you are at it get Sebastion Junger’s “War” a great book)
SH, probably the only time we will ever agree, but you hit the nail on the head. And no, you did not ruin it for anyone, the truth is, A soldier follows orders, no matter how fruitless.
Heatherington focused on that simple fact, we would all do well to do the same.
RIP
Alfred Lord Tennyson