Who is the author of Saved?

The author of Saved is Benjamin Hall.

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Saved Book Summary - Saved Book explained in key points

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Name: Saved
Rating: 4.1 (116 reviews)
Author: Benjamin Hall

Benjamin Hall

A War Reporter’s Mission to Make It Home

4.1 (116 ratings)

16 mins

Brief summary

'Saved' by Benjamin Hall recounts the heroic real-life stories of ordinary people who were saved from perilous situations by their faith in God. It's a testament to the power of spiritual belief and perseverance in times of crisis.

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Friendship Wars Memoirs Inspiration The Human Condition

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Summary of 7 key ideas

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Key idea 1 of 7

What’s in it for me? Discover an inspiring story of survival behind the news.

Kyiv, March 14, 2022. The team of Fox News journalists was returning from a morning of news-gathering when the second bomb tore through their car near the combat zone. Within moments, there were only two survivors. By the time the smoldering wreckage of their car was spotted from the road, there was just one.

This Blink tells the extraordinary story of what happened to that surviving journalist, Benjamin Hall – and the nearly impossible mission undertaken by an experienced team of specialists not just to keep him alive, but to get him out of Ukraine.

If you’re curious about what it really takes to report from the frontlines of global conflict, read on.

A Voice in the Dark

The first bomb had whizzed overhead and exploded a stand of birch and pine trees just 20 feet ahead of them. In the chaotic aftermath, experienced cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski had shouted for the driver to reverse direction, but the second bomb exploded before anyone could respond.

In the silence and darkness following the second explosion, correspondent Benjamin Hall stepped out of time. He felt no pain, no urgency – nothing at all. Slowly, he became aware of a familiar figure hovering before him. Then, he heard the voice of his young daughter urging him to get out of the car. Feeling her presence, he somehow understood he had to move if he was going to keep on living.

In shock and gravely injured, he summoned what strength he could for the grueling process of crawling out from the back seat of the car – just in time, in fact. Moments later, the third bomb exploded.

By some miracle, Ben had survived the bombs that destroyed the small red car used by the Fox News team – who, just weeks before, had arrived to cover the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine. His colleague Pierre had also survived but was on the ground, bleeding out from an injury to his femoral artery.

Their situation was dire: so close to combat and far from the journalists’ home base in downtown Kyiv, the area around them was deserted. As Ben lapsed in and out of consciousness, he noticed that his injuries were significant. He also became aware that their car had rolled downhill off the main roadway and couldn’t even be seen from the road if a vehicle should pass. He would have to get someone’s attention if he had any hope of being rescued – and so he began slowly crawling upward in a desperate attempt to be seen.

After what seemed like hours, Ben at last heard a familiar sound. A car was approaching. In a final burst of energy, he began frantically waving, shouting, even throwing clumps of dirt – anything to attract attention. Soon, he felt a hand grab the back of his jacket and lift him up. In the blinding rush of pain that followed, his brain could only hold on to one thought: they’d been saved.

Waking Up

Unaware of who had plucked his broken body off the roadside, Ben remembers only fragmented images of what followed. Rumbling along in the back of a van, and then some sort of ambulance, he kept mumbling his name – that he was a journalist and an American, fearing he was in the hands of the Russians. Then he saw a hypodermic needle being jabbed into his arm, and he passed out.

He remembers a team of doctors hovering over him wearing headlamps, their pools of light sweeping across his body as they worked quickly without electricity. Next, he was waking up in a clean, bright hospital bed, convinced he was in Russian hands. Terrified and thinking the nurses must be spies, Ben felt trapped inside a Cold War nightmare – until an American man walked over to his bed and softly asked him his name, and whether or not he’d like to leave.

On the Move

Though safe, Ben was in bad shape. Part of his right leg had been amputated immediately. But his left leg had also been severely damaged by the blast, as well as his right hand. He was aware that he’d been on fire at some point, but didn’t know the severity of his burns. He’d also had one eye cut in half by shrapnel, had a caved-in fracture of his skull pressing on his brain, and was suffering a number of other internal injuries from the impact.

Even in perfect health, getting Ben to – and across – the Polish border would have been difficult. In his fragile state, just leaving the hospital was risky.

A Long Haul

Though Ben’s condition was critical, Rich and Seaspray were able to convince Ukrainian doctors to discharge him. His condition was far worse than the already-overwhelmed hospital could treat, and many of the most critical interventions needed to be done within 48 hours of injury. The hospital itself was also under constant threat from Russian bombing; it couldn’t guarantee that anyone would be safe within its walls.

Rich and Seaspray couldn’t reveal the other reason they needed to move Ben quickly. They’d learned through back channels that a diplomatic train carrying the Prime Minister of Poland was in Kyiv for a meeting with Ukrainian leaders. The train sported heightened security and wouldn’t have to pass through bombed-out roads. It offered the safest, smoothest way out of the country. The only problem? They didn’t have permission to travel on the train – yet.

Surviving Survival

By the time the train started rumbling toward Poland, the pain medication Ben had been given that morning in the hospital was wearing off. He learned on that train that his colleagues, cameraman Pierre, and local interpreter, Sasha, had died in the blast. Getting to Poland was also just the first part of what would be a long journey toward the medical expertise Ben needed to survive his blast injuries. Compound traumas like his were rare outside of combat, and required expert care. Getting this care would mean traveling further than Poland.

Back at Fox News, the team had organized a military pickup for Ben. A helicopter would meet the train and transport Ben first to a local Polish military hospital. The staff there would then prepare him for the onward flight to a specialized medical center. For almost 48 hours, Ben’s only thought had been to survive. Now that he was safe and under military medical treatment, he realized he was on a new journey.

The Road Home

One of the best options for such long-term care was at the Brooke Army Medical Center, in Texas. But getting there was going to take additional grit – and a lengthy flight in a military C-17 cargo plane without pain medication, so he’d remain alert. Knowing he had no choice, Ben set his resolve and got through the pain one more time.

While the medical experts had predicted two years of treatment and rehabilitation, Benjamin Hall was determined to make this process faster. Much faster. All the efforts by his team, colleagues, and the diplomats, military specialists, and medical team that had ensured his survival motivated him to take on his recovery with zeal and purpose. He cheerfully faced sudden setbacks, painful interventions, and relentless physical challenges in honor of those who had come to his aid.

Final Summary

When journalist Benjamin Hall’s news team was attacked in the early days of the war in Ukraine, just surviving the initial bombs was a miracle. The coordinated effort it took to save him, get him medical treatment, and safely help him out of the country became the mission of specialist operatives, diplomatic and military cooperation, and lots of luck. Aware of his incredible fortune, Ben embraced whatever challenges it took to bring him back home to his family.

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What is Saved about?

Saved (2023) is the gripping and timely account of a war correspondent’s near-fatal brush with combat in Ukraine in March of 2022 – and the extraordinary effort to save his life and bring him home.

Saved Review

Saved (2022) by Benjamin Hall is a captivating exploration of human survival stories that will leave readers inspired and amazed. Here's why this book is definitely worth your time:

The book presents gripping and dramatic accounts of people finding the strength to overcome extraordinary challenges and escape life-threatening situations.
By exploring a variety of scenarios, from natural disasters to risky adventures, Saved offers a unique perspective on the resilience and determination of the human spirit.
With its fascinating and well-researched stories, the book ensures that every page is filled with excitement and curiosity, making it an engaging and definitely not boring read.

Who should read Saved?

News hounds looking for an inside scoop on current events
Thrill-seekers who love a fast-paced story of escape against the odds
Anyone curious about the lived experience of those who deliver the nightly news

About the Author

Benjamin Hall is a former freelance war correspondent and Fox News journalist. He has written for numerous publications including the New York Times, the BBC, and Agence France-Presse.

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Politics Motivation & Inspiration Biography & Memoir

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