10 October 2021 - FRENCH SOLDIER-HERO LOSES HIS LIFE

 

FRENCH SOLDIER-HERO

 LOSES HIS LIFE

 

G'day folks,

It is always inspiring to see a public servant that takes their duty to the ultimate level, risking life and limb in the name of what they see as “just doing their job”. 

 Such efforts must always be commended and honored. Because at times, they choose to go to great lengths to save others, even so far as to make the ultimate sacrifice. In March 2018, a local supermarket in the French town of Trebes was taken hostage by an ISIS gunman on a violent rampage. As the police struggled to assess the situation from the outside, Lieutenant Colonel Arnaud Beltrame stepped forward. He entered the building and slyly placed an active cell phone nearby the gunman, enabling law enforcement to listen in.

He traded places with a hostage and stood in front of the gunman unarmed for 2 long hours, as his colleagues worked to devise a way to release the hostages. Gunfire eventually ensued forcing officers to breach the perimeter. There were 3 fatalities while 15 other hostages survived with injuries. Beltrame was badly wounded in the hail of bullets and married his partner while in his hospital bed.

 He succumbed to his wounds within a few hours. Though the world lost a brave man, his deeds will never be forgotten. Following his passing, tributes poured in from people everywhere to honour him for his sacrifice.

Clancy's comment: A brave man. What would you have done?

I'm ...