Traverse City Record-Eagle

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August 6, 2012

UPDATE: Benzie drowning victim identified

BEULAH — An Ohio man drowned in Lake Michigan while saving his 12-year-old nephew, authorities said.

Kevin Patrick Schlake, 40, of Cincinnati, was in the area vacationing with his family, Benzie County Sheriff Rory Heckman said. Schlake, his brother-in-law and two nephews were swimming at Peterson Beach in Benzie County's Lake Township Sunday afternoon when the brother-in-law realized they were caught in a rip current.

The brother-in-law was able to throw one nephew out of the current, but the other nephew was being pulled under. Schlake pulled that nephew to safety before drowning. His body was recovered by a Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore ranger about a half-hour later.

Waves were running up to five feet at the time of the incident, authorities said.

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