French photographer wounded in Syria dies

2013-02-26 6

French freelance photographer Olivier Voisin was working in Syria when he was hit by shrapnel.

He died in a Turkish hospital on Sunday from his wounds.

Voisin's friend said they had been hoping to take him to a hospital in Paris but his condition was critical.

(SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH JOURNALIST, FRIEND OF DEAD PHOTOGRAPHER OLIVIER VOISIN, ALEX MONCHOVET, SAYING:

"When we learned he had to stay here, we understood that his condition was very critical and it was a matter of days, even hours."

Voisin was working for Reporters Without Borders, following the operations of an armed opposition group near Idlib, in northwestern Syria.

This amateur footage that Reuters cannot independently verify purports to show people fleeing a recent air strike in the province.

Idlib has witnessed heavy fighting in the two-year conflict, which has killed an estimated 70,000 people so far.