Good Grief - Pastor killed by crocodile while baptising

[malaise]

people at a lake in Ethiopia.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/crocodile-kills-pastor-ethiopia-baptism-lake-abaya-docho-eshete-arba-minch-fatal-croc-attack-nile-a8384531.html
<snip>

Reptile reportedly leapt from the water and grabbed Pastor Docho Eshete as he moved on to the second person in a mass baptism of 80 followers

A lakeside baptism ceremony ended in disaster when a large crocodile leapt from the water and killed the pastor, it has been reported.

Docho Eshete was allegedly grabbed by the crocodile soon after he started a mass baptism for 80 people on the shores of Lake Abaya in southern Ethiopia.

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

Pastor Docho was said to have been bitten on his legs, back and hands.

As his horrified congregation looked on, local fishermen reportedly struggled to rescue him. It was said they succeeded only in using their nets to prevent the crocodile from taking the 45-year-old’s body into the lake, near the city of Arba Minch.
-------------------------------
Why this report has spread across the globe so quickly I don't know.

[lapfog_1]

1. next time they do this perhaps they won't do the full immersion technique...

a bucket of water and a ladle...

[exboyfil]

30. Friends used the bucket of a front loader when

in the military in the Mideast. Lots of ways to skin a cat.

I am a Lutheran so we just pour just a little bit of water.

[Blue_true]

55. Isn't that how catholic priests baptize people? nt

[panader0]

2. I guess the crocodile was doing a little baptising of his own.

[malaise]

4. The laws of nature

always win.

[Tipperary]

12. Mother Nature beats "our Father."

That croc must have been rather annoyed not to have been able to take its prize back into the lake. Did this pastor not know there are crocs in those waters?

[Blue_true]

57. Yep, undefeated. Waiting for the next one to step into the ring. nt

[magicarpet]

32. Ah, the crock may have been doing the Holy Communion thing...

.... Bread/of the flesh, Wine/of the blood. Maybe the crock was Catholic ?

[treestar]

35. Lol

[hunter]

48. The crocodile god had dibs on his soul...

...and took it.

[hlthe2b]

3. Surviving relatives of the dinosaurs.. They will always do what is instinctive

and humans will always think they can avoid what is instinctive....

Horrible death, for sure...

[hunter]

51. Crocodiles are much older than dinosaurs.

The surviving relatives of dinosaurs are birds. But birds are just as bad ass.

A cassowary, ostrich, or even an ordinary goose, if you cross them, will be quite happy to mess you up bad enough to leave you dead for the vultures to eat.

I've caught all my parrot friends looking at me one time or another like "if a huge meteor struck the earth today destroying human civilization I'll bet you'd taste like bacon."



wikipedia

[dembotoz]

5. movie script writers around the world are feeling inspired after this

the scene that writes itself

[malaise]

7. And I'm sure some of the church members

have the rest of the script. It sure writes itself.

[Solly Mack]

6. Lake Abaya is side by side w Lake Chamo...very little land separates them

Lake Chamo is filled with Nile crocodiles.

Just saying.

Tragic (and it is) but not entirely Ripley's.

Perhaps they need to build a baptismal font.

I would recommend it.

[malaise]

8. Yuh think?

Given the proximity to Nile crocs, Darwin may have struck.
I'm just glad the sheeple weren't dinner for that croc.

[Solly Mack]

9. Well, to be fair, the uh faithful went along willingly to the croc hole.

The pastor was the most stationary target though.

The odds were not in his favor.

People gathering around a croc hole is no different than any other animal stopping by for a drink...to the crocodiles anyway.

[malaise]

10. On the other hand

they aren't called sheeple for fun - they even agreed to be dunked in the lake.

[Solly Mack]

13. Oh, now. I'm trying to be nice.

Let me be nice.

[jberryhill]

23. Except it was Zimbabwe last year

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/804685/crocodile-attack-zimbabwe-pastor-walk-on-water-Jonathan-Mthethwa

It’s a fake story.

[moriah]

64. Here's the BBC version:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44366360

And the link in Amheric, the official language of Ethiopia.

https://www.bbc.com/amharic/44355105

Google Translate gets it a little odd, but okay, here's a few differences between the fake story about Zimbabwe (which for some reason first appeared in English) and this.

1) Baptisms aren't events of hubris, like claiming that a person can walk on water.

2) The large number of people to be baptized isn't unusual, whereas pastors preparing to show congregants a miracle, fasting and praying and then "walking out 30 meters before trying to get to the surface" certainly is. If you were able to walk on water, shouldn't you have started at the beginning?

3) There's no suggestions that the lake was considered unsafe by natives in the original version or the BBC English version of this story -- in fact, fisherman were mentioned in both the original and the English BBC version, using nets. You don't get to do much fishing on lakeshores with nets without getting your feet as wet as a person would using that location for baptisms. In the urban legend, there's the note that he deliberately chose a river called the "Crocodile River".

4) Part of the original foreign language version states that a funeral was held for the pastor, and people were trying to save his body from the crocodile -- and were successful at that, though not at killing the crock. In the urban legend, the only things left allegedly were his sandals and underwear.... conveniently floating atop the surface like he'd allegedly intended.

----

Now, whether this actually happened or not is something none of us can know, as apparently there wasn't video of the incident.

Is this some propaganda attempt to scare people off of being baptized? Possibly.

Are DUers making fun of full-immersion baptisms falling prey to the same type of thing that made the obvious urban legend spread like wildfire, including cultural insensitivity/supremacy? Perhaps.

But this one has the ring of tragedy, not trying to teach some moral lesson on pride -- which in the "walk on water" UL was clearly an integral part of the story, even if it had the "dumb people from Africa" trope also for the setting they chose.

[jberryhill]

74. There's a university (and a crocodile farm) in Arba Minch

I tracked down the email address of someone in their humanities department, and have inquired whether one should take this story as fact. If he writes back, I'll post.

[CrispyQ]

11. Oh Solly,

I still remember that fab photo array of yours, in that national park — I don't recall where — wish I still had the link. It was wonderful!

[Solly Mack]

14. The Creole Nature Trail

I love that drive.

[LakeArenal]

15. God's will. God's plan.

Mother nature’s rules. Mother nature’s selection.

[rurallib]

16. one of God's creatures was hungry

[DrDan]

17. I have spent a few days at the lakes at Arba Minch fishing for Nile Perch

Huge fish - the largest we caught was 80 lbs.

The lake is crawling with crocodiles and hippos. We would take the boat out at night and the glowing eyes would be everywhere.

[malaise]

18. Wow!

That must have been quite an experience

[DrDan]

19. we were in Ethiopia for 2 years - in Addis Ababa

just a wonderful country populated with incredibly friendly people. We returned a couple years back and ran into some folks we knew while living there in the '70's. I was a tennis coach at the private school where we taught. One of the ballboys while we were there is now the school's coach. It was wonderful catching up with him and reminiscing about some of the finer players from those days.

We were also able to track down the house we lived in. That was no small task considering the changes in the past decades plus the lack of street names in the city. But we found it (with the help of a driver) and the current resident was kind enough to invite us in for some pictures and conversation. It was a surreal experience.

[malaise]

24. Lots of Jamaicans live in Ethiopia (mostly Rastas)

Have a good friend who returned home recently after several years there - she loved it.

[DrDan]

47. it is just a beautiful country

there is a facebook group that you might find interesting - Historical Photos from the Horn of Africa. Some remarkable photos are posted there. I have learned a lot from the group.

[panader0]

58. Haile Selassie man.

There's a plumber in my little town who lived there during Selassie's reign. His dad was in the service.
He said he loved Ethiopia.

[DrDan]

60. yes - it is a beautiful county - my wife and I arrived there just after he was ousted from power

it is tragic what happened there for the next few years under the Derg

[AdamGG]

59. I think former Senator Paul Tsongas served in the Peace Corps there in the 60's

I remember him saying that when he went horseback riding in the countryside, they stopped in a village and there were two pictures on the wall of the hut they went into, Haile Selassie's and JFK's.

[DrDan]

62. horseback riding was a popular diversion while we were there mid-to-late 70's

we had several horses and participated in organized gymkhanas as well as riding the countryside - as did most of the expats.

Truly a shame what the Marxists did to that county.

[pansypoo53219]

72. OH NOES! HIPPOS.

last week's target.

[jmowreader]

20. Okay, so I gotta ask...

If you go to be baptized and the minister dies during the ceremony, are you considered baptized or do you have to go back?

[malaise]

25. Would you want to be

or would you read the 'sign' and run.

[Ligyron]

21. Is it bad that I'm laughing?

Just can't help it. Baptism of Blood.

[jberryhill]

22. Didn't this one come and go around a few months ago?

Yeah, it did. Fake story. Funny, though.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2018/06/05/no-an-ethiopian-pastor-didnt-get-eaten-by-a-crocodile-during-a-baptism/

Stories like this appear all the time. They’re never true. Just last year, we heard about a Zimbabwean pastor who tried walking on water, only to drown and get eaten by crocodiles. That story also had alleged witnesses… and no proof. Snopes later said it was false. Even the Daily Mail, which usually spreads falsehoods like that, admitted the story originated on a satirical site.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/pastor-eaten-by-crocodiles/

Someone is testing their fake news spreading system.

[malaise]

27. But this one is in real media today

It was even on local news

[jberryhill]

28. So was that one

You didn’t bother to read the article I linked, obviously.

[jberryhill]

31. It's a "let's laugh at stupid Africans" story

That's why this one - JUST LIKE THE LAST ONE - is taking off through lazy media.

Even here at DU:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1218250234

A Zimbabwean church pastor attempting to demonstrate how Jesus walked on water by crossing a river on foot was eaten alive when he was attacked by three crocodiles.

Jonathan Mthethwa of the Saint of the Last Days church brought his congregation to the area known locally as Crocodile River before attempting his biblical recreation.

According to witnesses, the pastor entered the water and waded out approximately 30 metres before attempting to make his way to the surface. Unfortunately for the pastor, three crocodiles pounced and devoured him.

Only his sandals and underwear were recovered, according to a report in the Daily Post.

...and it links to the Daily Mail.

This shit happens. There's a reason why it happens, and gets passed on so gullibly - even by "real media".

It plays on stereotypes to a "funny" effect - i.e. that Africans are dumb, because this type of story is always placed in some remote area of Africa where there is not going to be any realistic fact-checking about it.

But, you know, since "Oh, those Africans are dumb", it's believable to a lot of "smart" media people.

But you are really going to sit there and say that "Oh, see, the one about the pastor being eaten by crocodiles while demonstrating his faith in Zimbabwe was a fake one. And this TOTALLY DIFFERENT one, about a year to the day, about the pastor being eaten by crocodiles in Ethiopia - yeah, now that's the REAL one."

You actually believe that?

[malaise]

34. Not where I am

because in Latin America, South America and the Caribbean there are lots of river baptisms.

I've read of lightning hitting pastors in churches too - some of them happened - some didn't.

[jberryhill]

38. Okay, so let me ask you a question

Yes, there are river baptisms in the US (particularly the south too), but I'm not particularly aware of crocodiles in Jamaican waters.

People who are raised somewhere know the hazards.

When you are making wreaths, do you use the small limbs of manchineel trees, or sit under them in the rain?

No, of course you don't.

Pretty sure that people who live to adulthood in areas with crocodiles are not so stupid as to have baptisms where they know there are going to be crocodiles.

[malaise]

40. I don't credit snake oil salesmen

of any race with too much sense.

That said even the sheeple would know the terrain.

[jberryhill]

42. Here's a thing that makes you go "huh"?

https://caymannewsservice.com/2018/05/another-visitor-dies-after-snorkelling-trip/

Another visitor dies after snorkelling trip


Okay, so they are up to 7 so far this year, and they usually run in that range. But its the comments that get me. Middle aged and older guys who sit around all year go down to Cayman, usually go out snorkeling on their own, and turn up dead. It's like a HUGE mystery to some folks down there.

[malaise]

43. Yep

This one is not rocket science. No mystery there.

[jberryhill]

45. Does that sort of thing even show up in the news in Jamaica?

Because they are shocked every time it happens.

[malaise]

46. No - I can't remember hearing one of those here

a very rare croc attack is more likely

[jberryhill]

49. It would have been me...

Because until five minutes ago, I would not have known that Jamaica has crocodiles.

So all of those pictures in the tourist brochures of people bathing in mountain streams and pools are just there to keep them fed?



Dang.

I was in Nairobi National Park (much smaller than other parks, but I had limited time) and the guide took my wife and I down to the river with the oldest, rustiest rifle I ever did see, and I thought we were going to go look at some giraffes. At a bend in the creek, on the high undercut bank, there was a German couple who were getting really close to about an 8 foot dropoff on that side of the creek. I couldn't tell what they were looking at, and the guide gestured for me to go over and take a look... and then I see there's a crocodile chilling out right under the dodgy mud bank that they were standing on. I was like, oh hell no, I'm getting back in the van.

I think that's how they keep them fed there.

I don't know how fast they can move or how far they can get in a hurry, but I do know they eat things that are a shitload faster than I am.

[malaise]

50. Our crocs are on the South Coast

Tourists are mostly on the North Coast. We took one of my siblings and her family on a tour of the Black River some years ago - saw two huge crocs.

Great story in the park

[treestar]

36. In fairness this story has to be set

Where there will be crocodiles. Could do one that takes place on Oz too

[jberryhill]

41. And here you go... from Australia.....

https://www.andrews.edu/library/car/cardigital/Periodicals/Record_SPD/1994/1994_01_29.pdf

[treestar]

67. Kind of like the snake handlers

God is going to keep the crocodiles in their place!

[malaise]

44. We have crocodiles here

but they are not in all rivers - they are mostly on the south coast and attacks are very rare. Indeed they are protected although there are morons who catch and eat them.

[treestar]

66. As long as they don't come up those rivers

I saw a news story where an Australian got killed by one that was unexpectedly far up the river!

[malaise]

68. Good point - when there are major weather events

like floods, a few end up in strange places.

[AdamGG]

61. To be fair, I was laughing at religion, not Africans

[malaise]

69. Same here

it's like lightning hitting one of the snake oil salesmen.

[Tipperary]

73. And just about every year in the US, mountain lions kill cyclists/runners.

Just because it happens fairly regularly does not mean it is not true.

[sarisataka]

33. It was definitely a crock

[jberryhill]

39. Oh, I resent your alligation!

[LSFL]

54. dammit you beat me to it.

Now I look like a hack and an unrepentant punster!

[jberryhill]

26. I heard that if you drink a glass of water before bedtime, it scares off crocs

[NCTraveler]

29. That's sad.

It’s also not a safe practice where crocs live.

[PJMcK]

37. I wondered what happened to the Disney crocs (n/t)

[Ferrets are Cool]

52. Those damned Librul crocs.....they keep trying to destroy Christianity. nt

[LSFL]

53. Whatta croc!

Sorry. I am a terrible punning person.

[malaise]

56. LOL

I miss Pinboy3niner

[treestar]

70. Me too!

Puns always make me think of him!

[panader0]

63. I was in Tamarindo, Costa Rica two years ago

A surfer had been bitten by a croc a short while earlier.
When we went across the river to surf to the north, we took a boat, only two bucks.
The crocs didn't go out into the ocean, but came close.
Lots of crocs and iguanas everywhere-- and howler monkeys, and good beer and music.

[malaise]

71. That's on the Pacific side

Costa Rica is a beautiful country full of lots of critters

[Raine]

65. Sad, must have been horrifying

for the people who were there and saw it.