 Cantlie was reportedly kidnapped by fighters while crossing illegally into Syria from Turkey on 19 July 2012, near Bab al-Hawa.Along with Dutch photographer Jeroen Oerlemans, Cantlie was shot whilst trying to escape their captors.In an interview with "The Sun" newspaper on 26 August 2012, Cantlie said it was "every Englishman's duty to try and escape if captured."