麻豆社

鈥淭his was just one baby out of thousands and thousands of other babies.鈥� How James got involved in a war.

When he fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 James Le Mesurier left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets 鈥� rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria 鈥� and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elaborate hoax. James Le Mesurier 鈥� his detractors say 鈥� was a British secret agent, pulling the strings. So when his body was found by worshippers on their way to morning prayers, there were a lot questions.

Produced, written and presented by: Chloe Hadjimatheou
Editor: Emma Rippon
Researcher: Tom Wright
Mixed by: Neil Churchill
Arabic translation and additional research: Vanessa Bowles, Abdul Kader Habak
Turkish researcher: Nevin Sungur
Narrative Consultant: John Yorke
Original music: Nick Mundy and Bu Kolthoum
Production Coordinator - Gemma Ashman

REFERENCES

PM, 麻豆社 Radio 4, 13 November 2014

鈥溾�橣ind her for me! Her name is Aya!鈥�, Her mother. SCD in Damascus were able to rescue Aya鈥� - The Syria Civil Defence - The White Helmets, 20 Feb 2017

鈥淔irst explicit pictures of massive barrel bomb dropped on rebel zones in Syria鈥� - euronews (in English) Credit: DaryaRevlution, 31 Jan 2014

鈥淏aby in the rubble: Syria鈥檚 White Helmets鈥� - UN Humanitarian, 22 Oct 2015

鈥淒irect targeting to the white helmets teams鈥� - Syria Civil Defence - The White Helmets, 19 December 2019

鈥淩escuer weeps after saving Syrian baby鈥� 鈥� CNN, 30 Sep 2016

PM, 麻豆社 Radio 4, 13 November 2014

Storyville - Last Men in Aleppo - 麻豆社 collaboration with the Aleppo Media Centre, 27 Nov 2017

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