Police were called in to rescue two Christians after they were swept away during a river baptism in Peru. Rosa Jiménez Bartolo was being baptised by her brother, a pastor, in the Rímac river when the accident occurred. 

Video of the incident showed Bartolo lowering herself into the fast-flowing waters, as her brother declares, “I baptise you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ". Then, she lost her balance and fell over, knocking her brother down and sending them both into the rapids. Another church member attempted to grab the stricken pair but was unable to get to them in time. 

Thankfully, a local congregant called the police immediately, and the authorities mounted a swift rescue operation. "We were patrolling Ramiro Prialé Highway when we got a request for help from one of her relatives," local police officials explained. "Immediately, we mounted a search and found them 100 meters from the place, submerged in the water. We rescued them and took them to a medical post." 

Both Bartolo and her brother survived the ordeal. 

Following the incident, National Police of Peru major Erick Acosta urged Christians not to hold baptisms in dangerous sections of the river, particularly given that Peru is currently in its rainy season. 

"As there were no swimming pools and they are closed in Huachipa, they chose to go to the Rímac River," he said. 

Other similar river baptism accidents have been recorded in South Africa Tanzania, resulting in the drowning deaths of several people. 

Peru and neighbouring Bolivia have been hit by dangerous flash floods in recent weeks, with footage emerging of one man being rescued from the roof of his car:

At least four people are reported to have died in Bolivia as a result of the flooding.