BULLET-PROOF VEST WOULD NOT HAVE SAVED NORAMFAIZUL - DR ALWI

PETALING JAYA (Malaysia), Sept 5 (Bernama) -- A bullet-proof vest would not
have guaranteed the safety of slain BernamaTV cameraman Noramfaizul Mohd Nor as
the bullet fired was of a very high calibre, said Dr Alwi Abdul Rahman.

Dr Alwi, who was the head of the medical team accompanying the Putera
1Malaysia Club's humanitarian mission to war-torn and famine-stricken Somalia,
said not only was the bullet of very high calibre, it also damaged two important
organs in the victim namely the heart and lungs.

"Even if he had worn a bullet-proof vest, the bullet would still have
pierced through. Furthermore, the bullet fired hit a grey area...entered through
the armpit and exited the shoulder. After being hit, he became unconscious and
never recovered conciousness," he told reporters when met after returning from
Somalia at the Royal Malaysian Air Force's (RMAF) Subang air base near here
Sunday.

Dr Alwi was part of the 55-member strong mission which included Noramfaizul.

Noramfaizul, 39, died after being hit by a stray bullet while covering the
mission in Mogadishu on Friday.

Dr Alwi said various efforts were taken to save Noramfaizul with assistance
also provided by an Australian paramedic team which was staying at the same
hotel as the cameraman.

He said he arrived at the hotel about three minutes after being alerted of
the shooting and took over from the paramedics in treating Noramfaizul who was
already in a critical state.

"We attempted cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and did whatever we could, but
the bullet had pierced through his heart and lungs. We also received very good
cooperation from the Australian paramedics," he said, adding that Noramfaizul
showed no response and was motionless during the attempt to revive him.

"He was unconscious and had lost a lot of blood. We were ready to do a blood
transfusion if necessary as we already had information on the blood type of
members of the mission. Emergency equipment was also adequate but we were just
unable to save him," he said in a choked voice.

As he was very close to Noramfaizul having been together on several
humanitarian missions organised by the club prior to this, Dr Alwi said the
attempt to save his friend was a very poignant situation for him.

-- BERNAMA