“I had to do it because my colleagues faced death.” Now the rescuers need saving.
When James Le Mesurier fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 he left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets – rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria – and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elaborate hoax. James Le Mesurier – his detractors say – 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 WrightMixed by: Neil ChurchillArabic translation and additional research: Vanessa Bowles, Abdul Kader HabakTurkish researcher: Nevin SungurNarrative Consultant: John YorkeOriginal music: Nick Mundy and Bu KolthoumProduction Coordinator - Gemma AshmanREFERENCES
* Abdulhadi video – Syria’s White Helmets: Mask of Terror report. Anna News Agency Documentary, January 5th, 2017 Uploaded to Daily Motion by Sayed Hasan
ARCHIVE TRUMP WITHDRAWAL: Press conference April 3rd 2018 – Source Reuters via The Washington Post website