CORNISH — A 72-year-old Cornish man drowned Wednesday after falling into a brook by his home, according to a news release from the New Hampshire State Police.

Michael W. Ranney was “attempting to traverse a homemade bridge” across Mill Brook on his property when he apparently “lost his footing” and fell 8 feet into the rocky water, the release said. Early Thursday morning, shortly after midnight and several hours after the incident occurred, a family member came by the property and found Ranney’s body, police said.

Cornish Fire Rescue, Cornish police and New Hampshire State Police responded to the scene.

Efforts to reach Ranney’s family members on Thursday were unsuccessful. Cornish property records indicate he lived on Chase Hill Road near Mill Brook.

Police are investigating the death but do not believe it’s suspicious.

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