“I had to make it home. I wasn’t done being their dad.”
More than a year after narrowly surviving a deadly missile strike in Ukraine, veteran journalist Benjamin Hall is sharing his powerful story—a journey marked by loss, resilience, and an unwavering drive to return to his family.
In his heartfelt memoir Saved: A War Reporter’s Mission to Make It Home, Hall recounts the harrowing events of March 14, 2022. While covering the war near Kyiv for Fox News, a Russian missile struck the vehicle he was traveling in—an attack that would change everything.
A Moment That Changed Everything
Hall was returning from an assignment when his convoy came under fire. The explosion took the lives of two close colleagues: 55-year-old cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski and 24-year-old Ukrainian producer Sasha Kuvshynova. Hall was the only one to survive.
“I lost limbs and I’m badly injured, but they lost everything,” he shared with People, honoring Zakrzewski as both a mentor and dear friend.
A Battle to Stay Alive
The injuries were life-threatening. Hall lost his right leg, his left foot, the use of one hand and one eye, and suffered numerous other wounds. Stranded by the roadside, he might have died—until a stranger, lost and in the wrong place at the right time, discovered him.
That single moment launched an international rescue mission involving Fox News, military connections, and emergency medics. He was first flown to a military hospital in Germany, then transferred to a specialized facility in Texas.
“I had one goal: get back to my girls,” Hall said.
A Mother’s Silent Struggle
Back in London, Hall’s wife Alicia was facing a different kind of crisis—one she had to manage alone. With no certainty her husband would survive, she chose to shield their three young daughters—Honor, Iris, and Hero, then 6, 4, and 2—from the harsh reality.
“I didn’t want to tell the girls anything until we knew for sure that he would be okay,” Alicia explained.
She focused on keeping their world normal—school routines, ballet classes, bedtime stories. When Ben attempted to video call from his hospital bed, covered in bandages and not fully lucid, she stopped it immediately.
“You need to turn this off,” she told him. “You cannot speak to the kids like this.”
Finding Light in the Darkness
Hall’s recovery was slow and painful. More than 30 surgeries followed, each one a step toward survival. He faced excruciating pain, disorienting hallucinations, and endless setbacks.
In those bleakest moments, he clung to hope—however small.
“When I was really low, I just tried to find one little piece of goodness,” he said. “One thing to help me get through it.”
His mantra was simple: make it through the day—hug them tomorrow.
Coming Home
Exactly six months after the missile strike, Hall made his way home—just in time for his eldest daughter’s seventh birthday. He worried how they would react. Would they recognize him? Would they be scared?
What happened instead was unforgettable: the tight embraces, the bedtime routines, the trampoline laughter. It all came rushing back.
“I get this real physical emotion in a way I never did before,” he said. “Every time I look at them, I feel that now.”
The Road Forward
Hall’s journey isn’t over. More surgeries lie ahead, more physical therapy. But the man who once lay broken on the side of a Ukrainian road is now stronger, more focused, and grounded in what truly matters.
“You could throw absolutely anything at me and I know that I’ll get through it,” he said.
His wife Alicia shares that resolve. “It’s a journey, isn’t it? Life’s a journey,” she said. “Benji and I know that while we’ve been through a lot, others have been through even more.”
A Father’s Purpose
Benjamin Hall didn’t just survive—he came back with purpose. For every family dinner, bedtime story, or simple hug, he’s reminded of what he fought for.
“I’m not just lucky to be alive,” he said. “I’m lucky to be their dad.”
Editor’s Note: This piece was written to reflect Benjamin Hall’s personal story as told in his memoir and public interviews. It aims to honor the truth of his experience in original words for readers of our news platform.
