Napalm attack survivor to bring message of hope to Vancouver

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – It’s been 45 years since her image was captured as a child running naked from a napalm attack during the Vietnam War.

Kim Phuc is bringing her message of hope and healing to Vancouver this week.

The 54-year-old is still in pain and continues laser treatment for her scars. Third degree burns covered half of her body after the attack. She was nine years old.

But Phuc now lives in the Toronto area, is a proud grandmother and continues her work as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

She admits she did go through a period of bitterness, anger and hatred after the attack.

“I learned how to move on, how to forgive. Now I want to give back to the people who helped me when I was a child. I just want help people. That’s the bottom line.”

Of the myriad of people who helped her survive that day, she’s especially grateful to Nick Ut, the photographer, who put down his camera to bring her to a hospital on that fateful day.

The two maintain a very close relationship to this day.

Phuc’s brothers and cousins in the picture also survived the attack, although two other cousins, a three-year-old and a nine-month-old not seen in the picture, did not.

“When tragedy comes into our lives, it can make us even stronger. I give people hope because, look at my life – it has really changed,” she says.

The picture, dubbed ‘Napalm Girl,’ went on to earn a Pulitzer Prize.

Phuc delivers her message of peace at a Focus on Life gala dinner on Monday.

 

kim phuc

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