Abducted US pastor freed in South Africa after deadly shoot-out

An American pastor kidnapped by armed men during a church service in South Africa has been freed following a "high-intensity shoot-out" that left three people dead, police say.

Josh Sullivan was found unharmed in the township in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape on Tuesday evening - the area where the 45-year-old was taken last Thursday.

There were no immediate details on the kidnappers, who had made a ransom demand.

There has been a dramatic increase in kidnappings for ransom in South Africa over the past decade.

Mr Sullivan's kidnappers had made a ransom demand, prompting the intervention of South Africa's elite police unit, known as the Hawks.

In a statement released on Wednesday morning, the Hawks said that Sullivan had been rescued following "verified intelligence wherein a coordinated team… moved swiftly to the identified location".

Hawks spokesperson Avele Fumba said that as the officers approached the house, the suspects attempted to flee inside a vehicle, while opening fire.

"The officers responded with tactical precision, leading to a high-intensity shootout in which three unidentified suspects were fatally wounded," Mr Fumba said.