British project manager killed after refusing evacuation spot

Summarised from 5 outlets · 13 reports · Updated 24 Sept, 18:56 · Archive

Philip Mawer died in a terrorist attack in Mozambique after declining helicopter evacuation to allow women and children to escape first.

Philip Mawer, 58, a British project manager working on a gas field project in Mozambique, was killed during an attack on the Amarula Hotel in Palma by ISIS-linked militants in 2021. An inquest heard that Mawer was offered helicopter evacuation but turned it down so women and children could leave first. He was struck by a rocket during the siege. A coroner ruled that his decision to give up his evacuation place contributed to his death. Mawer's family claimed the SAS were prevented from mounting a rescue by an energy firm operating in the area, though the coroner did not condemn the companies involved.

How it is being reported

• Hero British contractor sacrificed his life to ensure women and children were rescued during Islamist attack in seaside resortA heroic British contractor sacrificed his life to ensure women and children were rescued during an Islamist attack in an unsuspecting seaside resort. A coroner ruled that Philip Mawer, a 58-year-old from Somerset, died as a direct result of his bravery during an Islamic State-backed siege in Mozambique. Mr Mawer was killed on March 26 2021 when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his vehicle as a convoy fled the besieged Amarula Hotel in the coastal town of Palma. He had turned down a place on a rescue helicopter to let women, children and the sick escape first. The Briton also refused a seat…GB News · 24 Sept, 20:54
• Brothers of British contractor killed by ISIS-backed terrorists in Africa say he was 'allowed to die' as they hit out at French oil firm for refusing to help rescue himBill and Mark Mawer said they were 'deeply disappointed' by the outcome of Philip Mawer's inquest after a coroner concluded the corporation had 'no responsibility' to 'stage a rescue'.Daily Mail · 24 Sept, 20:25
• Hero Brit saved others before he was killed by terrorist's rocket launcher at Mozambique beach hotelWARNING: UPSETTING DETAILS - Philip Mawer, who was from Shaftesbury, Dorset, put the lives of women, children and his own colleagues before his own as militants closed in on a hotel in MozambiqueThe Mirror · 24 Sept, 17:35
• 'Gallant' Briton killed in terrorist attack gave up place on helicopterA British man was killed in a terrorist attack in Mozambique after he "gallantly" gave up his place on a rescue helicopter so that women and children could be saved, an inquest has heard.Sky News · 24 Sept, 16:18
• British man’s ‘gallantry’ during terror attack contributed to his death, coroner rules‘True leader’ Philip Mawer declined an evacuation so that women and children could go firstThe Independent · 24 Sept, 15:38
• Coroner praises 'gallant' hero Brit killed by terrorists in Africa hotel siege but refuses to condemn companies accused of hindering rescuePhilip Mawer had 'gallantly' given up his space on a rescue helicopter - allowing women and children to be evacuated first - but his decision contributed to his death, a coroner ruled.Daily Mail · 24 Sept, 14:23
• French firm 'stopped SAS rescuing British businessman from Isis massacre in Africa'The SAS were prevented from rescuing a British businessman from an Isis massacre in Africa by a French energy giant, his family has claimed. An inquest into the death of heroic Briton Philip Mawer , 58, heard how he sheltered in Amarula Lodge in Palma, Mozambique, as Isis-backed Al-Shabaab terrorists laid siege to the hotel. His family has now claimed British special forces were prevented from helping Mr Mawer by an energy firm operating in the area. The contractor was in the country working on a project for one of Africa's largest natural gas fields, run by TotalEnergies through a…GB News · 23 Sept, 05:38
• Hero British worker was murdered by terrorists who besieged African hotel 90 minutes after manager 'abandoned' victims and was airlifted to safety with their DOGS, inquest toldA fellow contractor accused a hotel manager of 'abandoning' Phillip Mawer and other guests - fleeing in a helicopter with two dogs.Daily Mail · 22 Sept, 17:05
• British man killed in Mozambique siege ‘turned down evacuation so women and children could go first’Philip Mawer died when he was struck by a rocket, which explodedThe Independent · 22 Sept, 11:13
• British contractor 'killed with RPG during Isis massacre after letting women and children escape Islamist attackers'A hero British contractor was killed by an RPG during an Isis massacre after letting women and children escape the attackers first, an inquest has heard. Philip Mawer, 58, was killed in Palma, Mozambique as his hotel faced an onslaught from Isis terrorists. He spent two days sheltering inside the Amarula Hotel in 2021 as Isis-linked Al-Shabaab fighters raided the area. Mr Mawer, a manager at the firm RA International, was offered a helicopter evacuation on the second day, but bravely turned down the offer and insisted "women and children went first". TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say He again…GB News · 22 Sept, 06:25
• British project manager killed by ISIS-linked terrorists in RPG hotel escape, inquest hearsPhillip Mawer's colleague said the threat of terrorist activity was known, but they believed the military presence around Palma was enough to protect workers if an attack took placeThe Mirror · 21 Sept, 20:54
• Hero British project manager was killed by terrorists with RPG after he let women and children escape African siege firstPhilip Mawer, 58, had been working on a project to construct a new gas field in Mozambique when ISIS-linked terrorists attacked his hotel on March 24 2021.Daily Mail · 21 Sept, 16:45
• British man killed in Mozambique siege ‘turned down evacuation so women and children could go first’Philip Mawer died when he was struck by a rocket, which explodedThe Independent · 21 Sept, 16:25

In this story: Philip Mawer · Amarula Hotel · Palma · Mozambique · Al-Shabaab · TotalEnergies · RA International

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log