Where is Halyna Hutchins from? Family frantically trying to secure visa to come to US
The shocking death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins has devastated her family, which is now demanding answers from the authorities. Hutchins was fatally shot accidentally by actor Alec Baldwin on the set of ‘Rust’ on Thursday, October 20, in New Mexico. Though she was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital, she was declared dead soon after.
Following her death, a statement from a spokesperson for Rust Movies Productions LLC stated: “The entire cast and crew has been absolutely devastated by today’s tragedy, and we send our deepest condolences to Halyna’s family and loved ones. We have halted production on the film for an undetermined period of time and are fully cooperating with the Santa Fe Police Department’s investigation. We will be providing counseling services to everyone connected to the film as we work to process this awful event.”
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The Santa Fe County Sheriff's office said, “Detectives are investigating how [the prop firearm was used] and what type of projectile was discharged. This incident remains an active investigation. As more information becomes available, updates will be provided.”
Who is Halyna Hutchins' family?
Hutchins was a Ukrainian native whose parents -- Antoly and Olga -- were reportedly “beside themselves with grief” after they got to know the horrifying news from their son-in-law, Matthew. A friend from Kiev in Ukraine told The Sun, “The family is grieving but at the same time they are asking and they will want answers. If someone made a mistake then they will have to pay.”
They added, “They just don’t understand how something dreadful like this could have happened when safety measures are supposed to be in place. They are also frantically trying to secure documents to get to the United States. Her mother does not have the correct paperwork.”
As per reports, the 42-year-old grew up as an “army brat” on a Soviet military base “surrounded by reindeer and nuclear submarines”. After receiving her degree in international journalism, she began her career as an investigative reporter for a British documentary production company in Eastern Europe. However, later she moved to Los Angeles to establish herself in movies.
Hutchins’ sister, Sveltana, who lives in Indonesia, said she was “very proud” of her and thought of her as a role model. She noted, “I cannot comprehend [her passing]. I loved her very much. I was very proud of her, and she was my role model. We were always close. This loss is a great grief for our family, and I see how hard it is for our parents. Hopefully, time will ease our heartache.”
University friend Yana Nestoliy said: “She was a wonderful woman and a dear friend and mother. Her parents are devastated and are trying to get to the US to see her but it is very difficult for them. I heard from another friend that it was Matthew who called them to break the news.”
“She was fantastic at her work and after she left Kiev University she moved to the United States but she would often come back to Europe to work. Her mum wants to go to the US to see her and find out what exactly happened but is having trouble with her documents. It was her dream to live in America and make films and now she has died for her dream,” Nestoliy added.
Earlier, the cinematographer’s lawyer husband told DailyMail.com, “I have spoken with Alec Baldwin and he is being very supportive.” He also explained why no statement from the family has been released. Matthew said, “At this time, I still have not had an opportunity to prepare a statement, which I am planning to release. My intent is to, you know, put into words some of the things about her life and the situation which are I think most important. I plan to post that onto my Twitter as soon as I have an opportunity later today.”
He continued, “There's obviously a lot to deal with whenever there's any death in the family. We're moving around to address all the things we need to do on the ground. There's a lot of phone calls and messages,” before adding, “And we greatly appreciate all the sympathy. It feels like people are going to move mountains. One thing we're trying to do is to set up a memorial with AFI, the American Film institute. And that is in process, and there will be more details in the statement.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Ukraine's foreign ministry said: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine confirms that Ms Halyna Hutchins, who was killed during the process of filming on the territory of the USA, has Ukrainian citizenship. The Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco has been asked to clarify the circumstances and is co-operating with American law enforcement representatives. The Consulate also establishes contacts with relatives in order to provide the necessary assistance."