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Terry Anderson, a US journalist who spent almost seven years in captivity during the civil war in Lebanon, died at the age of 76.
Sulome Anderson, his daughter, confirmed his passing, saying that complications from heart surgery caused him to die away quietly at his Greenwood Lake, New York, home.
Sulome emphasized his father’s humanitarian activities, and
in spite of the horrific event, he had found comfort in recent years. She noted how reluctant he was to be dubbed a hero, wanting instead to be known for his support of organizations like the Committee to Protect Journalists and the Vietnam Children's Fund.
She said, “He never liked to be called a hero, but that’s what everyone persisted in calling him. Though my father’s life was marked by extreme suffering during his time as a hostage in captivity, he found a quiet, comfortable peace in recent years. I know he would choose to be remembered not by his very worst experience, but through his humanitarian work with the Vietnam Children’s Fund, the Committee to Protect Journalists, homeless veterans and many other incredible causes.”
During his captivity, Anderson endured brutal conditions, including chains, beatings, and threats. Released in 1991 as the civil war drew to a close, Anderson emerged as the longest-held Western hostage, having spent 2,454 days in captivity. He reunited with his daughter, born shortly after his abduction, for the first time when she was six years old.
