HOSPITAL bosses have led tributes to the Hampshire father of an Islamic State hostage, who died days after making a desperate plea for his son to be released.

Paul Cantlie, 80, from Droxford, died at Southampton General Hospital from complications following pneumonia after battling head and neck cancer.

His death came just weeks after he recorded an impassioned video message from his hospital bed asking for his son John’s captors to release him.

Mr Cantlie’s family said he may have died not knowing whether John’s captors received any of the messages.

Today he is being remembered for his role as a volunteer, patient representative for Cancer Research UK and governor at Southampton General Hospital.

A joint statement released by hospital trust chief executive Fiona Dalton and chairman of the governors John Trewby spoke of Mr Cantlie’s tireless dedication.

It read: “He was a truly inspiring man who had a deep commitment to our trust and the staff who work in it as well as to other patients.

“Paul gave his time for free to support us, challenge us and bring us into a better understanding of what our services mean to the people who need them.

“He was known for his sense of humour and bravery in speaking up at any forum to give us the benefit of his opinions and deep insights.”

Jac Samuel, Cancer Research UK senior research nurse at the Southampton research partnership group, said: “He was a true gentleman who was loved by everyone in the group and we will miss him.”

A statement on behalf of Mr Cantlie’s family said: “Many in the country will recall the recent broadcast from his 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’.

“Paul died not knowing whether John’s captors had received any of the messages he had sent to them.”