A U.S. Pastor abducted from his church in South Africa last week has been rescued following a police operation that resulted in the deaths of three suspects, authorities said Wednesday.
Josh Sullivan, 45, was taken at gunpoint last Thursday while preaching at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, near the coastal city of Gqeberha.
According to a statement by South African police, officers received a tip-off and on Tuesday moved in on a residence in the KwaMagxaki area of Gqeberha. As they approached, suspects attempted to flee in a vehicle and opened fire on law enforcement.
A shoot-out ensued, during which the three suspects were fatally wounded. Sullivan was found inside the same vehicle and was rescued “miraculously unharmed,” the statement said.
Sullivan, originally from Tennessee, moved to South Africa with his family in November 2018, according to details from his personal website.
His abduction came amid a surge in kidnappings across South Africa. Police data shows more than 17,000 kidnapping cases were recorded during the 2023/2024 financial year—an 11 percent rise from the previous year.
