Pretoria - South African photographer Anton Hammerl was shot in the Libyan desert and is believed to have died from his injuries, the Hammerl family said on Friday.
A statement released by the Hammerl family on Facebook said that they had been informed on Thursday night that Hammerl had been shot on April 5.
“On 5 April 2011, Anton was shot by Muammar Gaddafi’s forces in an extremely remote location in the Libyan desert. According to eyewitnesses, his injuries were such that he could not have survived without medical attention.
“Words are simply not enough to describe the unbelievable trauma the Hammerl family is going through,” the statement read.
“From the moment Anton disappeared in Libya, we have lived in hope as the Libyan officials assured us that they had Anton. It is intolerably cruel that Gaddafi loyalists have known Anton's fate all along and chose to cover it up.”
Hammerl, who used to work for The Star newspaper, was initially reported to have been captured by militia loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi near the town of Brega on April 5.
Sapa has reliably learnt that Hammerl's wife Penny Sukraj was told by American journalists Clare Morgana Gillis and James Foley of the shooting.
They were with Hammerl when they came under fire in an extremely remote location in the Libyan desert near the town of Brega.
Hammerl was apparently shot in the stomach, according to family friend Bronwyn Friedlander.
She said Hammerl had - according to Gillis and Foley - cried “help”.
She said that James asked if he was okay and Hammerl said he was hurt.
There was more shooting on the group.
“They called out again, and they called out a third time... There was no response,” he said.
Gillis and Foley were then taken captive by Gaddafi loyalists.
Friedlander said it was believed his injuries were such that there was no hope of survival without immediate medical attention.
National Press Club chairperson Yusuf Abramjee said of the death of Anton Hammerl was a shock.
“Our prayers and thoughts are with Anton's family, friends and colleagues. We are told he was shot on April 5. Why did it take so long to confirm his death?
“Anton will always be remembered as an outstanding photographer and a good human being. The news is devastating.
“To the Hammerl family, please accept the condolences of the entire media fraternity.”
Last month, well-known photographers Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros were killed after coming under fire in the besieged Libyan town of Misrata. - Sapa