Five days after he was kidnapped by armed men from his church in Motherwell, South Africa, Tennessee missionary Josh Sullivan was rescued and “miraculously unharmed” following a “high-intensity shootout” that left three people dead.

United States pastor Josh Sullivan, who was allegedly kidnapped by multiple armed men during a service at his church in South Africa, has been rescued and is 'miraculously unharmed,' according to local police.

Suspects began firing at police from a car - and three unidentified men were killed. Josh Sullivan, an abducted missionary who was also inside the vehicle, was uninjured and found to be in "excellent condition".