The Barry County Sheriff’s dive team and Hastings firefighters recovered the body of Laura Smith, 66, of Middleville, who apparently drowned in Gun Lake Thursday afternoon.
Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf said her body was found on the north side of the lake off Murphy’s Point.
The “This Is Waylansd” web site Thursday evening reported she jumped into the lake and was unable to make it back to her boat. Authorities said she took her three grandchildren, ages 7 and under, on a pontoon boat ride.
She jumped into the water to get something that had blown off the boat, which wasn’t anchored and drifted away from her with the children still on board. Authorities said the woman wasn’t able to make it back to the boat and went underwater. People who were at the lake helped get the kids back to shore and called 911.
Leaf said rescuers were called to the scene near Murphy’s Point at about 4:50 p.m.
