"Tim’s wound did not have to be fatal, but it killed him nevertheless." Sebastian Junger
After the initial blow of the news of Tim's death and learning that Tim bled out from his wounds, Sebastian Junger spearheaded a project to train and equip freelance journalist to treat life threatening injuries on the battlefield. Tim bled out in the back of a pickup truck while on the way to the hospital in Misrata because none of the Libyan Rebels or journalists with him knew what to do to stop the bleeding and save his life. It was a second huge blow (his death being the biggest one) to know that he could have lived if only someone had known how to apply pressure to his wound to stop the bleeding.
When Sebastian learned of how Tim died he made it a mission to do anything he could so that this might never happen again. "Tim is not the first friend I have lost in combat, but his death was certainly the most devastating. It has prompted me to start a medical training program for freelancer journalists so that the next tragedy can be averted. Our course is modeled after informal training that Tim and I received in Afghanistan and is taught by experienced medics, many with extensive combat experience." (Sebastian Junger)
Today, on the one year anniversary of Tim Hetherington's and Chris Hondros' deaths from a mortar attack in Misrata, Libya, the first class of 25 will finish their three day Reporters Instructed in Saving Colleagues seminar held in New York City. This fall and winter additional seminars will be held in London and Beirut. The classes will continue to be held on an annual basis in NYC, London and Beirut.
As much as it hurts me to have lost Tim, I am glad that Sebastian is managing to pull something good out of all of this and do a great thing in honor of Tim. I hope in my wishful thinking that none of the journalists need to use these skills, but atleast in the chance they do they will now know what to do.
ReplyDeleteDTV, when Sebastian learned that Tim bled out and could, most likely, have lived had anyone with him known basic first aid he immediately began to develop this program in the hopes the something like this will never happen again.
ReplyDeleteIt really is a very fitting tribute to Tim. Tim's passing, as you said, has so many people hurting even today. And I think that hurt will last forever.