Body of missing Lake Michigan swimmer found in Door County

The body of a swimmer from Franklin who disappeared in Lake Michigan two weeks ago has been found, authorities reported Tuesday.

Ahmad Z. Adl, 34, was part of a group of five people who were camping at Harrington Beach State Park in Ozaukee County on Aug. 20 when they decided to go swimming about 1 p.m. A search was launched when he didn’t return to shore.

Adl’s body was found floating at Whitefish Dunes State Park in Door County at 7:54 a.m. Sunday, according to the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Department. An autopsy by the Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed it was Adl through dental records and clothing and jewelry on the body.

The investigation will remain open pending toxicology tests, but the Ozaukee County Sheriff ’s Department reported it appears that Adl’s death was an accidental drowning.

Another swimmer in the group, Paige C. Berndt, 32, of Milwaukee, managed to make it to shore but suffered life-threatening injuries and died the next day.

Berndt was manager of Water Street Brewery in Grafton and Adl, who immigrated to the U.S. from Syria at the age of 6, was employed at GE Healthcare. Berndt and Adl planned to get married this month, according to WDJT-TV (Channel 58.)

A total of 77 people have drowned in the Great Lakes this year, including 26 in Lake Michigan, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project.