“Exclusive: First Photo of Olivier Vandecasteele’s Return to Belgium after 15 Months in Captivity”

2023-05-30 11:05:00


Olivier Vandecasteele, standing on the plane that brought him back to Belgium. This is the first photo of the humanitarian… free.

A snapshot taken by the Foreign Affairs photographer who knew nothing of his mission. “I was just told: ‘You have a mission. You have to take pictures of someone and that’s it’. Ok. We go to Melsbroeck and Melsbroeck, we take the A400M and we leave. We do not tell me”he explains.

Vlad Vanderkelen is not allowed to leave the plane. He waits three hours in Oman by 50 degrees. Suddenly, the tail of the plane opens. “I saw someone go out, a bit like in the movies… In the desert, you can’t see anything, it’s super lit, it’s a lot of sunlight… I was wondering what it was was, I couldn’t see… Then, little by little, I see, it’s Olivier who arrives. Little tear, with the sweat, with everything… Wow, ok… Let’s go”he tells us.

They have two minutes to take the photo and send it to Brussels before taking off. Olivier Vandecasteele validates it. It’s the first time he’s been confronted with his image as a former hostage. “What do you think about it ?”asks the photographer. “It’s really good. Your photos, it’s sweetness, it’s sweet.. Thank you”replied Olivier Vandecasteele.

Sitting side by side, the two men discuss. Vlad prefers not to discuss detention. He shows her the photos of his last mission in Senegal. “I show him the pictures of the sea and he says ‘Oh, the colors’. And he smiles because he sees the pictures of the sea, but he touches his face and he makes a sign of pain. He doesn’t hadn’t laughed for a long time…”

Olivier rediscovers simple pleasures after 15 months of inhuman treatment and deprivation. “He was happy to eat things again, like parmesan. A glass of water, sparkling water, a coke… Yes, he was happy. Happy”poursuit Vlad Vanderkelen.

Vlad will still take a few shots during the reunion in Melsbroek. “It will remain engraved in the heart and in the mind for a long time, really…”he concludes.






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