Matt Schrier

Before sunrise he squeezed himself through a small window with the help of his cellmate Peter Theo Curtis, who was left behind despite Schrier's efforts to get him out.

He was the cellmate of American war photographer Matt Schrier, who escaped after seven months of captivity.

Schrier is from Deer Park, New York, and attended Hofstra University, where he was an English major who also studied film production.

Schrier is from Deer Park, New York, and attended Hofstra University, where he was an English major who also studied film production.

He entered Syria with the help of the Free Syrian Army.

Schrier captured images of FSA rebels fighting forces of the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

In late December 2012, Schrier was captured by Jabhat al-Nusra, the Al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria, while traveling on the road between Aleppo and the Turkish border.

In late December 2012, Schrier was captured by Jabhat al-Nusra, the Al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria, while traveling on the road between Aleppo and the Turkish border.

In late December 2012, Schrier was captured by Jabhat al-Nusra, the Al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria, while traveling on the road between Aleppo and the Turkish border.

Schrier told 60 Minutes, "One of 'em was cloaked completely in black, you know, like the guys in the movies -- scarf around his face, AK-47 in his hand, and he took me out, put me in the back seat of the Cherokee and he put the barrel of the gun to the side of my head."

In 2018 Schrier's story was featured on the National Geographic television show Locked Up Abroad in the episode "Escape from Al Qaeda".

In 2018 Schrier's story was featured on the National Geographic television show Locked Up Abroad in the episode "Escape from Al Qaeda".

In 2013 Chivers published an article in The New York Times about the ordeal of photojournalist Matt Schrier as hostage in the hands of Syrian rebels while his cellmate journalist Peter Theo Curtis still was held captive.