Two things Ben would never have thought he was capable of: walking into a mental health care unit for three weeks and writing about his deepest emotions. But he did both.

In Tiger! Tiger! Tiger! Ben’s descriptions of his panic attacks, treatment and how it made him much worse before he became better is compulsory reading for anyone interested in the effects of PTSD. As his former partner Lisa says, here was a man who could face anything and for whom nothing was impossible being reminded that he had to have a shower. There were times she says when he didn’t believe he should be here. Much of this came from the guilt around the death of Katrina Dawson, for which he has never forgiven himself.

Two things Ben would never have thought he was capable of: walking into a mental health care unit for three weeks and writing about his deepest emotions. But he did both.
In Tiger! Tiger! Tiger! Ben’s descriptions of his panic attacks, treatment and how it made him much worse before he became better is compulsory reading for anyone interested in the effects of PTSD. As his former partner Lisa says, here was a man who could face anything and for whom nothing was impossible being reminded that he had to have a shower. There were times she says when he didn’t believe he should be here. Much of this came from the guilt around the death of Katrina Dawson, for which he has never forgiven himself.

The Lindt siege was the bravest day in Ben Besant’s life, and the worst. He faced and killed a shotgun wielding terrorist, but then learnt his actions contributed to the accidental death of a hostage. He believes another hostage died because he and his colleagues didn’t get there in time. As a Tactical Operations Officer (TOU), Ben and his mates were more prepared for their own deaths than those of hostages. He’d texted his goodbyes to his wife.

Ben’s training for that moment and family pedigree of service are typical of so many young Australians prepared to risk their lives responding to life threatening situations. His life since is also a cautionary example of the personal cost, as the damage of all the trauma he’d faced landed squarely on his family.

The Lindt siege was the bravest day in Ben Besant’s life, and the worst. He faced and killed a shotgun wielding terrorist, but then learnt his actions contributed to the accidental death of a hostage. He believes another hostage died because he and his colleagues didn’t get there in time. As a Tactical Operations Officer (TOU), Ben and his mates were more prepared for their own deaths than those of hostages. He’d texted his goodbyes to his wife.
Ben’s training for that moment and family pedigree of service are typical of so many young Australians prepared to risk their lives responding to life threatening situations. His life since is also a cautionary example of the personal cost, as the damage of all the trauma he’d faced landed squarely on his family.

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