Fox News cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski was killed in Ukraine on Monday in the same attack that hospitalized correspondent Benjamin Hall, the cable news channel said Tuesday.
In an internal memo to Fox News staff, CEO Suzanne Scott wrote that “our beloved cameraman” was killed in Horenka, a village near the capital city of Kyiv, when the vehicle he was riding in was struck by incoming fire. The memo was reported by Deadline.
“Pierre was a war zone photographer who covered nearly every international story for FOX News from Iraq to Afghanistan to Syria during his long tenure with us. His passion and talent as a journalist were unmatched,” Scott said.
“Based in London, Pierre had been working in Ukraine since February. His talents were vast and there wasn’t a role that he didn’t jump in to help with in the field — from photographer to engineer to editor to producer — and he did it all under immense pressure with tremendous skill,” Scott continued. “He was profoundly committed to telling the story and his bravery, professionalism and work ethic were renowned among journalists at every media outlet. He was wildly popular — everyone in the media industry who has covered a foreign story knew and respected Pierre.”
The memo went on to praise Zakrzewski for his role in getting Afghan freelance associates of Fox News and their families out of Afghanistan after the U.S. withdrawal. He was given a Fox News “Unsung Hero” award in 2021 for his efforts.
Fox News President Jay Wallace said, “Pierre was a constant in all of our international coverage. I, like countless others, always felt an extra sense of reassurance when arriving on the scene and seeing him with a camera in hand. The legacy of his positive spirit, boundless energy and eye for the story will carry on.”
Breaking the story on Fox News Tuesday morning, anchor Bill Hemmer called Zakrzewski “an absolute legend” and said “his loss is devastating.”
“We extend our deepest condolences to Pierre’s wife Michelle and family — please keep them all in your prayers. And please continue to pray for Benjamin Hall, who remains hospitalized in Ukraine,” Scott wrote in her memo.