Who Is 'Briton' Who Beheaded James Foley?

James Foley Was 'Super Courageous Journalist'

Updated: 4:50pm UK, Wednesday 20 August 2014

James Foley, the US journalist beheaded by Islamist militants, was an experienced reporter who had worked in a number of war zones and was aware of the risks he faced.

Mr Foley, 40, was working in the northern province of Idlib in Syria when he was kidnapped near the village of Taftanaz in November 2012.

A video purportedly shows Mr Foley being killed by the Islamic State, the militant group formerly known as ISIS and ISIL.

Mr Foley said he saw journalism as a calling. He switched to the profession after years of being a teacher in Arizona, Massachusetts and Chicago.

"I love writing and reporting," he once said.

He was contributing video for Agence France-Presse and the media company GlobalPost when he was abducted.

Mr Foley had worked before in war zones and seen the dangers to journalists up close.

He covered the war in Afghanistan and the fighting in Libya, which he called the worst he had seen at that point.

Alex Sherman, a colleague from Bloomberg, called him "a super courageous journalist who did unbelievable work in Syria and Libya".

Antony Loyd of The Times said: "Jim was an exceptional journalist. He had a very warm and approachable manner and yet at the same time he was very dedicated to his work.

"He was one of those few individuals you met who left a lasting impression."

Tom Coghlan, also of The Times, said: "James was fabulous. A fabulous companion and a fabulously brave man. And he was wonderful to work alongside.

"I remember that he would always be where things were most dangerous ... I understand he died very bravely and that doesn't surprise me."

Film maker Matthew VanDyke, a friend, called him a "fun guy ... He was very nice, very calm."

While covering the Libyan uprising, Mr Foley was captured and held for six weeks.

He also saw a colleague, South African photographer Anton Hammerl, killed by forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

He tried to pull his friend's body out of harm's way but was turned back by heavy fire.

"I'll regret that day for the rest of my life. I'll regret what happened to Anton," Mr Foley told the AP news agency.

"I will constantly analyse that."

Mr Foley grew up in New Hampshire and studied history at Marquette University.

His mother Diane Foley remembered him as "an extraordinary son, brother, journalist and person".

Mr Foley's parents became fierce advocates for him and all those kidnapped in war zones during his abduction.

At Mr Foley's family home in Rochester, a light burned yellow in a centre upstairs window and a yellow ribbon adorned a tree at the foot of the driveway.