Journalist Benjamin Hall: “lucky to be here”

Thursday night, two tweets appeared on Fox News journalist Benjamin (Benji) Hall’s feed – one was a dedication to photographer Pierre Zakrzewski and Ukraine journalist/translator, Oleksandra Kuvshynova, both killed in the accident where he survived – the other was the first public disclosure of Hall’s injuries, along with a photo from his bedside.

He described his injuries: “lost half a leg on one side”, and “a foot on the other”; one hand being “put together”, one eye “no longer working”” and his hearing is “pretty blown”.

It was dramatic to see this, accompanied by the photo (below). By morning both posts had been taken down, unclear as to why.

Benjamin Hall is 39 years old. A British journalist who serves as a State Department correspondent for Fox News, he is based in Washington, D.C. He joined the network in July 2015. He is also the author of the book Inside ISIS: The Brutal Rise of a Terrorist Army. Hall was rescued in a stealth operation by volunteers of “Save our Allies”.

Hall is married to Alicia Meller and they have three daughters. Meller is an Australian fashion developer, known for the shoe brand, “Senso”.

Other journalists – at least six – Ukrainian and foreign correspondents — have been killed while working to document Russia’s war on the Ukrainian people.

Yevhenii Sakun, a 49 year old camera operator for Ukraine LIVE, in Kyiv, when the station’s’ tower was shelled.

Brent Renaud, 50, a US filmmaker, working on assignment with Time Magazine, carrying NYT credentials, in a vehicle bombing, outside of Kyiv.

Oleksandra Kuvshynova, “Sasha”, 24, a Fox News producer and translater, when gunfire hit the vehicle she was in with others.

Pierre Zakrzewski, 55, a cameraman for Fox News, traveling alongside Kuvshynova in the town of Horenka when their vehicle came under fire, seriously injuring Benjamin Hall.

Oksana Baulina, a journaist, was killed while filming in Kyiv – she had been covering the war for the Insider, an investigative Russian news site.

Maksym Levin, Ukrainian photo journalist, found dead on the northern outskirts of Kyiv.