2 August 2012 Last updated at 14:20 ET

Rabbi Berish Englander's Aberystwyth sea death - report

A rabbi is reported to have died after getting into difficulties while in the sea off Aberystwyth.

He is reported to be Dov Berish Englander, 47, described as a highly respected member of London's Orthodox Jewish community.

A guest at the Glengower Hotel raised the alarm shortly after 08:00 BST on Thursday.

Milford Haven Coastguards sent the Aberystwyth RNLI inshore lifeboat and a coastguard rescue team to the scene.

An RAF Sea King helicopter from Valley on Anglesey was also called out.

The lifeboat crew pulled the man from the water and paramedics took him to hospital.

The Jewish Chronicle reported that Rabbi Berish Englander, from Stamford Hill, north London, was highly respected for his religious knowledge and his charitable work.

The Chronicle said he was in the sea performing a ritual bath called a mikveh.

The newspaper described the Ceredigion town as a popular resort for strictly Orthodox families.

'Extremely righteous'

In a statement a member of the Jewish Orthodox community, who is on holiday in Aberystwyth and knew Rabbi Berish Englander paid tribute.

He said: "He was an extremely righteous and very, very prominent and respected rabbi in our community.

"He was a good example to all. He was the kind of man you would take your children to meet, to use him as an example to the children.

"He was very kind and generous and gave an enormous amount of money to charity. He will be missed by everyone who knew him."

Dyfed-Powys Police, who are not treating the incident as suspicious, said Ceredigion coroner Peter Brunton had been informed of the death.