Restrepo Director Tim Hetherington: 1970-2011

Restrepo director Tim Hetherington was killed on Wednesday covering fighting between rebels and the Libyan military.

The acclaimed photojournalist and filmmaker died in Misrata, Libya after Gaddafi-led forces inundated rebel forces, firing a rocket-propelled grenade at the photographer. “Tim was in Libya to continue his ongoing multimedia project to highlight humanitarian issues during time of war and conflict,” the family said in a statement. “He will be forever missed.”

The British photojournalist, known for his up-close coverage of military conflicts, co-directed Restrepo, an Oscar-nominated and one of Paste’s Best Documentaries of 2010, an inside look at one U.S. military platoon’s experience in Afghanistan.

On Tuesday, Hetherington posted one last tweet on the night before he died, saying, “In besieged Libyan city of Misrata. Indisciminate shelling by Qaddafi forces. No sign of NATO.”

“He was an artist,” said Susan White, photography director of Vanity Fair magazine, where Hetherington had been a contributor since 2007. “He was a package deal. He had it all.”

Hetherington died at age 40. He will be survived by his mother, father, sister and brother, as well as three nieces and nephews.

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