Father of ISIS Hostage Dies

Paul Cantlie made an impassioned plea from his hospital bed for his son's life earlier this month, but he died not knowing whether it worked. The 80-year-old is dead from complications of pneumonia, reports the BBC. His son, John Cantlie, is a British journalist who has been held captive by ISIS militants for two years, notes the Guardian. The younger Cantlie has appeared in ISIS propaganda videos in which he is critical of the West—but in the first one he makes clear that his life is at risk.

"Many in the country will recall the recent broadcast from his [Paul's] hospital bed, when so demonstrably ill, but determined that his journalist son John should hear from his father 'how very proud I am of him,'" the family said in a statement. (More John Cantlie stories.)