Pastor killed by crocodile while baptizing believers in Ethiopia lake

 Pixabay

The BBC reports that a pastor has been killed by a crocodile while baptizing people in a lake in southern Ethiopia. 

According to the news service, Pastor Docho Eshete was in the middle of conducting a mass baptism in Lake Abaya when tragedy struck. 

"He baptised the first person and he passed on to another one. All of a sudden, a crocodile jumped out of the lake and grabbed the pastor," local resident Ketema Kairo told the BBC.

The pastor suffered bites to his legs, back and hands.  Fishermen managed to use their nets to stop the crocodile from dragging his body into the lake but the pastor died as a result of his injuries.

According to USA Today, policeman Eiwnetu Kanko said: "They only managed to get his dead body.  They were unable to save him."

Lake Abaya is situated in the Arba Minch area around 300 miles south of the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

The Daily Telegraph said crocodiles in Lake Abaya had a reputation for being aggressive to human beings as a result of overfishing that has affected their normal food supply.  

Last month, Zimbabwe resident Zanele Ndlovu, 25, nearly died when a crocodile attacked her and ripped off her arm just five days before she was due to walk down the aisle with her British fiancé, Jamie Fox, 27. Despite losing her arm in the attack, the couple went ahead with their wedding as planned.

Reflecting on her terrifying brush with death, Ndlovu told the BBC that it would be an adjustment but she was remaining positive.

"I am more positive now than I've always been. It kind of changed my life, in the sense of I almost died," she said. 

She also said: "Life is unpredictable. You know when they say when you make plans, God laughs? That makes so much more sense to me now."

News
House of Lords urged to back abolition of non-crime hate incidents
House of Lords urged to back abolition of non-crime hate incidents

The House of Lords is being urged to vote in favour of abolishing controversial non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs). 

World is at a 'dangerous tipping point', say Church leaders in appeal for peace
World is at a 'dangerous tipping point', say Church leaders in appeal for peace

The Church leaders said that the recent escalation in Iran and the Middle East had only added to the "distressing list" of ongoing conflicts including those in Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, and Myanmar.

Faith communities generate £250m annually for Welsh economy - report
Faith communities generate £250m annually for Welsh economy - report

Faith communities across Wales are delivering social action worth at least £250m a year while playing a vital role in addressing poverty, loneliness and mental health pressures.

How Christians should respond when senior public figures are arrested
How Christians should respond when senior public figures are arrested

The first thing Christians must do is uphold the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty'.