Audio diaries following Salford’s Alan Henning and his aid convey just days before he was captured by Islamic State have been released for the first time.
The recordings for BBC Radio 5 Live were taken by fellow aid convoy volunteer Dr Shameela Islam-Zulfiqar prior to the relief workers making their way into Syria.
Mr Henning, a former taxi driver from Eccles, was captured last December while travelling in an aid convey while crossing into Syria.
In one of the recordings Dr Islam-Zulfiqar describes how ‘Gadget’, a nickname for Mr Henning due to his love of technology, was ‘missing his kids obviously, but determined to do what he’d come to do’.
In another, she describes how they were ‘apprehensive about taking the aid and crossing the border’ as many of the convoy timings were known by Islamic militants.
However, she described how ‘watching the suffering of these people over those last week just makes us more determined to make sure we are doing something to help’.
She also described how air strikes have been relentless and thousands have been injured or killed.
Mr Henning’s wife, Barbara, has recently issued a plea to Isis to ‘see it in their hearts’ that he is released.
The 47-year-old was seen in a video a week ago which showed the beheading of David Haines, an aid worker who had been held captive since March 2013.
Two American journalists have also been beheaded in videos.
To listen to the audio, click here.
Image courtesy of Vice News, via YouTube, with thanks
