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Brazilian Assemblies of God Pastor Felisberto Sampaio and his wife, Inalda, tragically died while trying to save their 13-year-old son from drowning during a vacation trip to the beach this past week, media outlets have reported.
Reports say that Sampaio, 43, and his wife, 42, saw their teenage son struggling in the water at Camcari Beach in Brazil on Jan. 10. Both parents entered the ocean in an attempt to rescue their boy, but they failed to reach him.
Civil Police reports say a fisherman and one of his family members pulled Ian Sampaio out of the water safely, but both parents failed to emerge from the ocean. Reports say the local fire department confirmed to “Universo Online” that the victims were eventually removed from the water and that paramedics attempted to revive them, but soon after declared the couple dead at the scene.
Felisberto had spent the last 12 years as a pastor at the Assemblies of God Church in Quixaba, Paraíba. The family reportedly was spending a couple of days in the Paraíba city of Lucena.
The London Daily Mail reported the couple’s tragic death was mourned by churchgoers, including Leonardo Meneses, a pastor at a church Felisberto and Inalda frequently attended.
“I know that the circumstances are painful and difficult for us to understand; only eternity will explain all the mysteries of life,” Meneses told Universo Online.
The Christian Post reported that the couple’s oldest son, Issac Sampaio, told TV Borborema on Jan. 11 that he planned to visit his parents before their tragic deaths. The eldest child said he last saw his parents on Jan. 8.
A Brazilian resident familiar with the couple, Naldo Santos, posted this on Facebook about the brave couple: A couple of God’s servants, a true example of Christians and who were loved and cherished by all who lived together. May the God of infinite mercy receive them in the kingdom of His glory and may they rest in peace.” {eoa}
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Shawn A. Akers is the online editor at Charisma Media.
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