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Rabbi Berish Englander: Inquest finds death was accidental | Rabbi Berish Englander: Inquest finds death was accidental |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The death of a rabbi who got into difficulties and drowned in rough seas off Aberystwyth was an accident, a coroner has ruled. | The death of a rabbi who got into difficulties and drowned in rough seas off Aberystwyth was an accident, a coroner has ruled. |
Jewish Orthodox Rabbi Dov Berish Englander, 47, of Stamford Hill, north London, died in hospital following the incident on 2 August. | Jewish Orthodox Rabbi Dov Berish Englander, 47, of Stamford Hill, north London, died in hospital following the incident on 2 August. |
The inquest in Aberystwyth heard there was a high tide and the sea was "very rough", which hampered rescue attempts. | The inquest in Aberystwyth heard there was a high tide and the sea was "very rough", which hampered rescue attempts. |
Coroner Peter Brunton recorded a verdict of accidental death. | Coroner Peter Brunton recorded a verdict of accidental death. |
The hearing was told that Rabbi Englander, a father of 11, had been on holiday in Aberystwyth with his family. | The hearing was told that Rabbi Englander, a father of 11, had been on holiday in Aberystwyth with his family. |
The Ceredigion town is a popular resort for strict Orthodox families. | The Ceredigion town is a popular resort for strict Orthodox families. |
On the day of his death he had gone to the beach with his son and a group of other men to observe a daily morning cleansing ritual. | On the day of his death he had gone to the beach with his son and a group of other men to observe a daily morning cleansing ritual. |
The inquest heard he went further out into the sea than the others in the group and got into difficulty in water that was initially waist deep. | The inquest heard he went further out into the sea than the others in the group and got into difficulty in water that was initially waist deep. |
The inquest heard that one of the group tried to go in and save the rabbi but the sea was too rough. | The inquest heard that one of the group tried to go in and save the rabbi but the sea was too rough. |
Evidence was read from two holidaymakers from the Republic of Ireland who witnessed the incident. | Evidence was read from two holidaymakers from the Republic of Ireland who witnessed the incident. |
David Keating and Teresa Kiely were walking along the promenade at 07:55 GMT on 2 August when they saw a group of five or six people going in the sea. Ms Kiely said it looked like they were washing themselves. | David Keating and Teresa Kiely were walking along the promenade at 07:55 GMT on 2 August when they saw a group of five or six people going in the sea. Ms Kiely said it looked like they were washing themselves. |
"The male went a lot further out, about waist height in the water for about five to six minutes, before a wave went over his head," Ms Kiely said. | "The male went a lot further out, about waist height in the water for about five to six minutes, before a wave went over his head," Ms Kiely said. |
High tide | High tide |
Christopher Tapp was on his way to work when he came across the incident. | Christopher Tapp was on his way to work when he came across the incident. |
He told the inquest how he tried to throw a safety ring to Rabbi Englander but it was forced back to the shore by the waves. | He told the inquest how he tried to throw a safety ring to Rabbi Englander but it was forced back to the shore by the waves. |
Mr Tapp described the sea as rough and said there was a high tide, with little of the beach not covered in water. | Mr Tapp described the sea as rough and said there was a high tide, with little of the beach not covered in water. |
Giving evidence, Pc Patrick Lawler who was also at the scene, said: "It was rough. No-one should have been entering the sea on the day." | Giving evidence, Pc Patrick Lawler who was also at the scene, said: "It was rough. No-one should have been entering the sea on the day." |
'Loved and respected' | 'Loved and respected' |
Evidence was also read from Rabbi Englander's wife Bila Rochel Englander. | Evidence was also read from Rabbi Englander's wife Bila Rochel Englander. |
She said her husband was a real estate director and ran a college for young men, adding that her family had been in Aberystwyth on holiday in August. | She said her husband was a real estate director and ran a college for young men, adding that her family had been in Aberystwyth on holiday in August. |
Mrs Englander said the shock and grief of her husband's death had been indescribable. | Mrs Englander said the shock and grief of her husband's death had been indescribable. |
"He was loved and respected by all," she said. | "He was loved and respected by all," she said. |
"He knew how to swim. It was not an activity he did, but water was definitely not strange to him." | "He knew how to swim. It was not an activity he did, but water was definitely not strange to him." |
Mr Brunton gave the cause of death as drowning. | Mr Brunton gave the cause of death as drowning. |
Mr Brunton said he had seen two other cases reported in the Jewish Chronicle of people drowning in similar circumstances. | |
Following his death, Rabbi Englander was described as a highly respected member of London's Orthodox Jewish community in reports in the Jewish Chronicle. | Following his death, Rabbi Englander was described as a highly respected member of London's Orthodox Jewish community in reports in the Jewish Chronicle. |