John McCarthy

John McCarthy CBE, a British journalist, writer, and broadcaster, etched his name into history during the Lebanon hostage crisis. As the United Kingdom’s longest-held hostage in Lebanon, McCarthy endured over five years of captivity, making his story one of resilience and survival.

In 1986, McCarthy, a journalist with United Press International Television News, found himself at the center of a harrowing ordeal. Just two days after USAF airstrikes on Libya, he was ordered to leave Beirut by his employer, WTN. While en route to the airport under escort, McCarthy’s car was intercepted by a group of gunmen affiliated with Islamic Jihad terrorists, leading to his abduction.

After his release in 1991, McCarthy embarked on a journey of recovery and resilience. In 1995, he sailed around the coast of Britain with Sandi Toksvig, documenting the experience in a BBC documentary TV series titled “Island Race,” accompanied by a book.

A strong advocate for human rights, McCarthy serves as a Patron of Freedom from Torture (formerly the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture). His alma mater, the University of Hull, recognized his contributions with an honorary D.Litt. McCarthy’s enduring spirit and contributions to journalism and humanitarian causes were further acknowledged with a CBE in the 1992 New Year Honours List. Today, he remains an inspirational figure, illustrating the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.