Rabbi drowns after he jumps in lake to save his 2 children

Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Body recovered after father drowns in New York lake while trying to rescue children
Divers have recovered the body of a father who drowned while trying to save two children at an Orange County lake over the weekend.

WEST MILFORD, New Jersey -- Emergency crews have recovered the body of a New York rabbi who drowned after jumping into a lake to rescue two of his children.

Greenwood Lake police say 38-year-old David Traub rented a pontoon boat Sunday from a marina in New Jersey. His family then traveled out on the lake, which stretches about seven miles between West Milford, New Jersey, and Orange County in New York.

Two of Traub's children went swimming around 5:20 p.m. but eventually struggled to get back in the boat, so Traub entered the water to help them. Traub got the children safely back into the boat, but he then disappeared underwater.

Authorities soon began a search, but that was suspended Sunday night due to severe weather. The search resumed early Monday, and Traub's body was found shortly before noon.