American who died fighting ISIL inspired by TV

A Massachusetts man who traveled to Syria to fight Islamic State militants alongside Kurdish forces was inspired to make the trip by something he saw on television, a friend of his is telling various news media.

Keith Broomfield bought a plane ticket and traveled to Syria a few months ago after seeing something on television that inspired him, his friend, Joel O'Toole, told WHDH.

"I think it's incredible," O'Toole told the news organization. "It says a lot for someone to be motivated to get behind a cause like that and do something."

Broomfield was killed June 3 in Kobani, a region of Syria.

Broomfield's sister-in-law said he felt called to go to Syria and fight.

"He said God told him he had to go and without a second thought, he went," Melissa Broomfield told WHDH.

Broomfield is believed to be the first American to die fighting alongside the Kurds against Islamic extremists.