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Elderly woman dies while swimming in Lake Michigan

Posted at 12:19 PM, Aug 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-05 12:19:44-04

GANGES TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The Allegan County Sheriff’s Department says a 93-year-old woman apparently drowned while swimming in Lake Michigan Thursday.

Officials were called to the lakeshore in Ganges Township at about 4:30 p.m.  According to a release, Elizabeth Ann Bennet lived in the area and swam in Lake Michigan regularly.

“She was described as being in good shape and swims at that location on an almost daily basis,” the sheriff’s department said in the release.

Officials say witnesses saw her swimming on Thursday but became concerned after she did not exit the water.  Her body was pulled from the lake and CPR was attempted.  She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bennet swam “with a Styrofoam raft present,” according to a release.

Officials say a medical condition has not been ruled out in the incident.  A Medical Examiner will determine her official cause of death.