"On 05 April 2011, Anton was shot by Gaddafi's forces in an extremely remote location in the Libyan desert," Anton Hammerl's family announced late yesterday evening. "According to eyewitnesses, his injuries were such that he could not have survived without medical attention."

BJP understands that the crime was witnessed by American journalists Clare Morgana Gillis and James Foley, who were with Hammerl on 05 April and were abducted by pro-Gaddafi loyalists following the shooting.

"Words are simply not enough to describe the unbelievable trauma the Hammerl family is going through," the family's statement reads. "From the moment Anton disappeared in Libya we have lived in hope as the Libyan officials assured us that they had Anton. It is intolerably cruel that Gaddafi loyalists have known Anton's fate all along and chose to cover it up."

Hammerl was with Gillis, Foley and Spanish photographer Manuel Varela de Seijas Brabo when he went missing on 05 April. According to colleagues, the group of four was "caught in the rapid-fire advance and retreat that has characterized the Libyan conflict thus far."

Up until yesterday, Hammerl's family held out hope for his well-being. The family had been assured by representatives of the South African government that Hammerl was being detained by Gaddafi loyalists after talking with their Libyan counterparts. However, while access was granted to Gillis and Foley, Libyan authorities remained silent regarding Hammerl's fate.

Earlier this week, the family hoped to know more about Hammerl's whereabouts when Gillis, Foley, Brabo and British journalist Nigel Chandler were released. Instead, the journalists brought devastating news of his shooting.

According to Bronwyn Friedlander, a friend of Hammerl's family,"Penny Sukraj, Anton Hammerl's wife, was told by Gillis and Foley that they were with Hammerl when they came under fire. Anton Hammerl was apparently shot in the stomach. He cried 'help'. Foley asked if he was okay and he said no."

She continues: "There was more fire on the group. They called out again and this time there was no response. Anton's injuries were such that was no hope that he would have survived."

Gillis and Foley have provided a full account of what happened on 05 April to GlobalPost.

Since Hammerl's family released a statement confirming his death, friends and colleagues have taken to Facebook to send their condolences to his loved ones.

Since 2007 and until late last year, Hammerl was a regular photographer for Accountancy Age and Financial Director, which along with BJP is published by Incisive Media. "In addition to being an exuberant and engaging man who was ridiculously easy to like, Anton was an exceptional photographer who captured some startling portraits," says Gavin Hinks, group editor of Accountancy Age and Financial Director. "He never failed to produce a unique insight into his subjects and undoubtedly helped make Accountancy Age and Financial Director a better publication."

Mike Russell, Financial Director of the Zoological Society of London. Image © Anton Hammerl, courtesy of Accountancy Age.

"We had great hope that Anton, though reported detained, would emerge from Libya unscathed," Hinks tells BJP. "The news of his death is both cruel and devastating. He will be sorely missed and our thoughts at this time go out to his wife Penny Sukhraj, a former writer for the Age, and his two young sons Neo and Hiro."

News of Hammerl's death follows that of Chris Hondros and Tim Hetherington, who were both killed in a mortar attack on 20 April in Misrata, Libya. Photojournalists Guy Martin and Michael Christopher Brown were also injured in the same attack.