A Winfield man drowned early Thursday morning at Tunnel Mill Dam.
According to a news release from the Winfield Police Department, the deceased is identified as 42-year-old Sonesiri Phengsengkham.
Officers with the WPD were dispatched at 12:26 a.m. to check the welfare of a male subject who was in the water at Tunnel Mill Dam, the news release said. Officers were told the male, later identified as Phengsengkham, was possibly experiencing a mental health crisis.
Police located Phengsengkham in the water, who was yelling for help and acting erratically, the news release said.
Officers attempted to guide him back to shore, however, Phengsengkham swam farther away.
Winfield Fire/EMS was called for assistance at this time, the WPD said.
Officers followed Phengsengkham along the shore to monitor his wellbeing and position. While waiting, he went under the water and did not resurface. Officers immediately entered the water and began searching for him.
Winfield Fire/EMS arrived on scene and assisted in the search.
Rescue crews were able to locate Phengsengkham and remove him from the river. Resuscitation efforts were preformed, and he was transported to William Newton Hospital in Winfield, where he was pronounced deceased.
The Winfield Police Department was also assisted by the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office and Winfield Fire and EMS.
“No further information will be provided about this incident,” the police department said.
