Tragedy struck in South Africa, as a Pastor reportedly drowned while baptizing church members in the river at Blood River village in Seshego outside Polokwane.
The members who were yet to be baptized, were left in shock as they watched helplessly as their Pastor who entered the flooded river drowned.
Though the body of the Pastor was recovered, this is however not the first time a Pastor has drowned in a river during baptism in South Africa. In December, a pastor drowned in the Ulmazi River while apparently conducting a baptism.
IPSS Medical Rescue spokesperson Paul Herbst said it responded along with police divers to the scene near Ezimbokodweni Primary school in Y section where a search took place for the 36-year-old man’s body.
“A dive operation was conducted and the victim’s body was located at a depth of 4m in rapidly flowing water. The body was recovered and handed over to the Bhekithemba detectives on scene,” he said.
In a separate incident, a little boy was resuscitated after a near drowning at the tidal pool in Tinley Manor.
“Exact circumstances leading to the drowning remaining unknown, however it is reported that members of the public noticed the lifeless boy floating in the water and pulled him onto the pools edge,” he said.
KwaDukuza lifeguards responded within minutes and performed CPR. After extended efforts, paramedics managed to regain the child’s vital signs and he was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
In a separate incident which happened earlier this year, six of nine children who participated in a baptism ceremony in a river in eastern Zimbabwe ended up dead. Police said the two members of an apostolic church who had taken the children had tried to escape before authorities caught them.
