‘Loyalists covered up Hammerl’s death’

Ludwig Hammerl holds his granddaughter, Aurora, during a vigil for his son, South African photojournalist Anton Hammerl,in Johannesburg earlier this year. The Hammerl family confirmed on Friday that Anton was killed in Libya on April 5. Photo: Jennifer Bruce

Ludwig Hammerl holds his granddaughter, Aurora, during a vigil for his son, South African photojournalist Anton Hammerl,in Johannesburg earlier this year. The Hammerl family confirmed on Friday that Anton was killed in Libya on April 5. Photo: Jennifer Bruce

Published May 20, 2011

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Pretoria - South African photographer Anton Hammerl was shot in the Libyan desert, 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 was initially reported to have been captured by militia loyal to Gaddafi near the town of Brega on April 5. - Sapa

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