Tributes paid to war photographer Tim Hetherington killed in Libya

The British film-maker killed in a mortar attack in Libya was a public schoolboy who tuned his back on life of privilege to work with suffering humanity, it emerged today.

Tim Heatherington was born to wealthy Roman Catholic parents who sent him to an exclusive boarding school.

He graduated from Oxford and could have pursued a variety of safe and highly-paid commercial or academic careers.

Instead he chose to put his life on the line behind a lens and to endure hardship and deprivation in some of the more dangerous conflict zones.

By the age of sixteen Heatherington had developed a burning passion to help the underdog and went to work for the Big Issue magazine in London to learn journalistic skills.

Oscar-nominated Tim Hetherington, 41, died in the town of Misrata alongside a American agency journalist Chris Hondros.

They pair died on Wednesday in an the explosion of mortar shell fired in an attack by Colonel Gaddafi's forces in which at least three others were also injured.

Merseyside-born Hetherington won an Oscar nomination this year for his documentary on the war in Afghanistan 'Restrepo'.

He has been sent to be educated at Stonyhurst College, Lancashire - one of the top Roman Catholic boarding schools in the UK where fees are now #25,000 a year.

Prayers were being offered at the Benedictine school near Blackburn, where staff paid tribute to the man who had distinguished himself as an "excellent" pupil and leader.

In a statement Stonyhurst spokesman Katherine Walker, said: "Tim Hetherington attended the College from 1984 to 1989.

"Tim achieved excellent academic results and went on from Stonyhurst to Oxford University to continue his studies.

"Whilst at Stonyhurst, Tim played rugby for the 1st XV, won prizes for Debating, Creative Writing and English and was treasurer of the college Film Society.

"We are deeply saddened to hear of Tim's untimely death and we have offered our condolences to his family."

Old schoolmate Adrian O'Donnell, who boarded in the same house as the front-line photographer, said he was a "natural leader" and a "kind friend".

Adrian, who lives in New York, said: "Tim was very popular, good at rugby and a bright and determined student who got accepted to Oxford.

"He was that guy that always took an interest in what was going on in the world and was passionate about music and literature.

"He was a natural leader and a kind friend.

"He was the 'go-to-guy' when you had a problem at school or if your girlfriend was breaking-up with you, that kind of thing. A rare thing in a tough all boys school.

"That is not to say he wasn't strong, he was very strong but also had great compassion.
"The girls loved him and the guys wanted to be like him.

"We lost contact after leaving school and recently reconnected when we found out that we were both living in NYC and had planned to meet up.

"I'm very sad this did not happen."

Hundreds of fans and friends flooded Facebook to pay tribute to the popular photographer.

One read: "Such a loss to the human rights community. Tim Hetherington's work has raised the visibility of many of the world’s forgotten conflicts. A true hero! R.I.P."

Another wrote: "Rest in peace Tim. You were an inspiration a role model and an example of what a photojournalism, could be and should be. I will miss you."

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