NYT publishes account of the wounding of photojournalist Joao Silva

By Stokes Young, nbcnews.com

The caption for these pictures as they appear on Carlotta Gall's article in The New York Times:

Wounded by a land mine, Joao Silva, a New York Times photographer, shot three frames before becoming too weak to hold the camera. He lost both of his legs in the explosion.

Joao Silva / The New York Times via Redux

Soldiers of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, 4th Infantry Division react to photographer Joao Silva stepping on a mine in the Arghandab district of Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, on Oct. 23, 2010, in a three-photo combination. For American troops in heavily-mined Afghan villages, steering clear of improvised explosive devices is the most difficult task.

Read the story here: A Footstep, Then an Explosion and an Urgent Call: ‘Medic!’

See more pictures from Mr. Silva's memory card from the day of the mine blast at The New York Times' Lens blog. The blog post ends with this editor's note:

Support Joao Silva Photojournalist has been set up by Greg and Leonie Marinovich, friends of Mr. Silva, to help him and his family as he goes through rehabilitation. Money is being raised through outright donations and the sale of prints by Mr. Silva.

Jerome Delay / AP

In this Feb. 2009 photo New York Times photographer Joao Silva is seen while on assignment in Madagascar.

Explore related topics: the-new-york-times, afghanistan, joao-silva

jogby

We spend a lot of money in our defense and yet we have not developed a way to detect land mine easily. Foot work is very dangerous.

#1 - Tue Nov 30, 2010 5:45 PM EST

ellebee

For me, as I am a photographer, this is such a tragic story. I admire Mr. Silva's courage along with the soldiers to be there in the first place. When he is able, I hope he continues his love of photography as difficult as that will be.... I'm truly saddened. My prayers go out to him, his family and the soldiers that are still there and the ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Please, let's bring everyone home now.