Neil Davis (cameraman) - Death

Death

After nearly 20 dangerous assignments on the battle fronts, Neil Davis was killed in Bangkok on 9 September 1985, while filming a minor Thai coup attempt that ended after only a few hours. Davis and his American soundman Bill Latch were covering a radio tower that had been seized. A tank protected the gate to the tower. Davis set up his camera facing the tank and got ready to deliver his report. Without warning, the tank fired in their direction. Davis and Latch were killed by shrapnel. Davis died instantly, and the camera fell to the ground, still running. The last scene recorded by his camera was of the fatally wounded Latch crawling for cover.

Latch, a former missionary, had reservations working with Davis, and knew one day his recklessness would be his undoing, according to a colleague of his from Voice of America. It was no secret Davis also had his own reservations - always meticulous in the care and maintenance of his equipment, in private Davis questioned Latch's ability to meet his standards. Davis was a victim of technology which may have contributed to his sudden death. He had always worked by himself in dangerous situations, preferring not to make life-and-death decisions for others. But for the past six years of his reporting life, he was tethered to a sound man "to shoulder the heavy battery and cassette pack, linked to the nine-kilogram camera by a video cable."