Girl, 3, drowns in Lake MI at S. Haven

SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. (WOOD) - A 3-year-old girl was pulled unresponsive from Lake Michigan at a South Haven beach on Wednesday and later died at a hospital.

It happened around 7:45 p.m. at South Beach, according to officials with the South Haven Fire Department.

The girl's mother told South Haven police she had left her daughter in the care of other relatives as she went to the bathroom. She said she was gone for about eight minutes, and when she returned, the girl was unresponsive in the water.

A swimmer noticed the child, Maleisa Brown, who was not wearing a flotation device, in shallow water near the shore.

Maleisa was taken to shore where two civilians performed CPR, according to a news release.

South Haven Police Officer Craig Jankowski arrived and continued CPR efforts, and later helped by South Haven Area Emergency Services personnel.

She did not regain consciousness and was taken to South Haven Health Services where extensive attempts to revive her continued. But Maleisa later passed away.

There were no lifeguards and "Swim at Your Own Risk" signs at the beach at the time.

Police do not believe the drowning was caused by rip currents because of the location where the girl was found. The incident did not happen near the pier, which is where authorities say many rip currents originate.

Authorities have contacted Child Protective Services.