A CLOSE friend of Taliban hostage and Wagga man Timothy Weeks has implored the Australian government to help secure his release.
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The terrorist group left the community stunned after this week releasing footage of the 49-year-old former Ashmont resident begging for his life.
Islamic fundamentalists uploaded a 13-minute video of the teacher breaking down in tears, pleading for the Australian and United States governments to arrange a prisoner exchange to prevent his execution.
A visibly-distressed Mr Weeks, who was abducted from Kabul, Afghanistan by radicals back in August, also gave a heart-wrenching address to his ailing mother.
"My mother, I know you are sick in hospital and I may never see you again. I ask Dad, please, I want to come home, please speak to the American government,” he said.
"If we stay here for much longer, we will be killed. I don't want to die here – I'm alone and I'm scared.”
The video was a distressing discovery for Andrew Alexis – who has considered Tim a close friend for more than a decade.
Mr Alexis described the former Wagga teacher as a “selfless, strong” man who always puts others before himself.
“Before he was in Kubal he was in East Timor teaching and doing so to spread his knowledge to disadvantaged countries and help kids receive an education,” he said.
“He's not normally an emotional person so his sincerity and his fear is something we should take very seriously.
“It’s shocking just to see him like that.”
He also pressured Australia’s security officials to be more proactive in ensuring the Wagga native’s safety.
“I’m horrified to think nothing is being done to help him,” Mr Alexis said.
Mr Weeks urged his family to make contact with the American embassy, and pleaded with US president-elect Donald Trump to intervene.
"Donald Trump, sir, please, this is in your hands,” Mr Weeks said in the video.
“If you do not negotiate with them (The Taliban), we will be killed.”
Mr Weeks was one of two people snatched near the American University campus in the Afghan capital on August 7.
He had been teaching high-level English for less than a month when he was kidnapped.
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Australian government “has been working with other governments to secure the release of an Australian man kidnapped in Afghanistan in August 2016”.
“We have also been providing consular support to the man’s family,” the spokesperson said.
