Joao Silva, who can easily be described as one of South Africa’s most accomplished photographers, is on the mend in the Walter Reed Army Medical Centre after losing both of his legs below the knee while on assignment for the New York Times in Afghanistan. The next stage of his recovery is physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Silva, who was walking behind mine sweepers on patrol in Kandahar at the time of his wounding, stepped onto an anti-personnel landmine, which destroyed the lower portions of his legs. Silva continued to snap photographs while he lay bleeding.

Silva has since been offered a full time post by the New York Times following his recovery. It’s only a pity that it took a life threatening injury for the news outlet to recognise the key asset that they have in Silva, whose work has won a spate of awards over the course of his career.

Silva is best known for his iconic work in the townships of late-apartheid South Africa as a member of the tightly knit group of photographers known as the Bang Bang Club. A Hollywood biopic of the Bang Bang Club’s exploits is due to be released later this year. Silva consulted on the shooting of the picture prior to his injury.

[Source : News24]