Terry Anderson, a US journalist who was imprisoned in Lebanon, passes away at age 76

Following complications from heart surgery, Terry Anderson, a US journalist and former hostage in Lebanon, passed away at the age of 76.

Terry Anderson, a US journalist who spent almost seven years in captivity during the civil war in Lebanon, died at the age of 76.

Sulome Anderson, his daughter, confirmed his passing, saying that complications from heart surgery caused him to die away quietly at his Greenwood Lake, New York, home.

When Sulome thought back on her father’s life, she emphasized his humanitarian activities and the fact that, in spite of the horrific event, he had found comfort in recent years. She noted how reluctant he was to be dubbed a hero, wanting instead to be known for his support of organizations like the Committee to Protect Journalists and the Vietnam Children’s Fund.

“He never liked to be called a hero, but everyone insisted on calling him that,” she said. Despite the terrible pain he endured as a captive in captivity, my father has recently experienced a calm, comfortable peace. I am aware that he would want to be known for his humanitarian efforts with the Vietnam Children’s Fund, the Committee to Protect Journalists, homeless veterans, and a host of other amazing causes, rather than for his worst experience.

The world was stunned by Anderson’s 1985 kidnapping in Beirut. He was playing tennis on his day off when he was grabbed by gunmen, who then drove off, leaving him in a terrifying state of captivity. His sister Peggy Say, who died in 2015, worked nonstop to secure his freedom and the release of other hostages’ relatives.

Anderson suffered horrendous treatment in captivity, including beatings, chains, and threats. At 2,454 days in captivity, Anderson became the longest-held Western captive until his release in 1991 as the civil war was coming to an end. When his daughter was six years old, he finally got back together with her. She was born not long after he was kidnapped.

After being freed, Anderson went on to become a journalism instructor and taught at several US colleges. But in addition to dealing with PTSD, he had financial difficulties and lost millions of dollars on investments linked to his embargoed Iranian holdings.

Despite the difficulties, Anderson wrote a memoir about his incarceration called “Den of Lions,” which went on to become a best-seller and provided insights into his incredible adventure and fortitude in the face of misfortune.