Arrest after man dies during baptism ceremony

A baptismImage source, Life Changing Ministries
Image caption,

The baptism was live streamed on the apostolic church's Facebook page

At a glance

  • A man in his 60s died during a baptism service in Birmingham at the weekend

  • A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out, police said

  • A woman has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and been bailed while inquiries continue

  • Published

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after a man died during a baptism ceremony.

Emergency services confirmed a man in his 60s died at a private address in Erdington on Sunday.

A 46-year-old woman arrested in Birmingham on Tuesday has been released on bail while inquiries continued, police said.

The BBC understands the man was taking part in the ceremony carried out by Life Changing Ministries in a small pool in the property's garden.

The baptism event was streamed live on the church's Facebook page, but the stream was cut during the event and the video later removed.

The group's founder Cheryl Reid-Bartley said on the Facebook page on Monday a man called Robert Yap had died.

She said he travelled to Birmingham to be baptised, adding he had lived with Parkinson's Disease and been a member for four years.

Followers have been urged to fast and pray "for the ministry, for apostle [Cheryl Reid-Bartley] herself and for our faithful members".

West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was called about 13:40 BST on Sunday to a medical emergency involving a man at a private address on Slade Road.

"Staff administered advanced life support to him, but unfortunately, despite the best efforts of ambulance staff, it became clear that nothing more could be done to save him," a spokesperson said.

He was confirmed dead at the scene.

West Midlands Police said a post-mortem examination would be carried out while detectives continued inquiries.

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