Missing Mahwah Paddleboarder Found Drowned After Extensive Search

MAHWAH, NJ — An extended search for a 24-year-old Mahwah man who went missing after falling off his paddleboard on Monday night has ended, Mahwah police announced.

Police officials confirmed that the Mahwah resident drowned, and that his body was found around 3 p.m. on Tuesday. He has yet to be identified.

Police arrived to Dators Pond around 6:45 p.m. on Monday after receiving reports that a 24-year-old Mahwah man was paddleboarding, but lost his balance and fell into the water. Upon arrival Officer Travis Canning quickly entered the water and attempted to locate the victim, but was unsuccessful.

"The depth of the pond and the dense vegetation made rescue efforts extremely difficult," police said.

Police learned that the victim had been paddleboarding with his brother, who was able to make it out of the water safely.

As police on the scene continued to search for the victim, additional assistance began to arrive.

Mahwah Fire Company 1 deployed their dive team while officer Matthew Buonocore conducted an aerial search using the department's drone, police said.

Mahwah Fire Chief Cord Meyer eventually requested dive teams and assistance from the following agencies: Mahwah EMS, Mahwah DPW, Bergen County Sheriff’s Department K9 Unit (cadaver dogs), Wallington Fire Department, Wyckoff Fire Department, Oradell Fire Department, Lyndhurst Fire Department, Parsippany Fire Department, Ringwood Fire Deptartment, Piermont Fire Department, Stony Point Fire Department, Thiells Fire Department, Tallman Fire Department and Suffern Fire Department.

Rescue crews utilized sonar devices and cadaver dogs, searching into Monday night until the operation was suspended due to darkness and "difficult underwater terrain."

News12's Tony Caputo posted video to Twitter of emergency vehicles arriving at the area around 8 a.m. on Tuesday, when police said the search resumed with the aid of 11 agencies from around the area.

The investigation has been turned over to the New Jersey State Police Marine Unit.

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