A person has died after a drowning at HorseThief Reservoir in western Kansas on Saturday afternoon, according to the Hodgeman County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said the incident was first reported at around 3:10 p.m., when dispatch received a 911 call about a possible drowning at the reservoir, located west of Jetmore.
Emergency crews were sent to the swimming area shortly after the call. As the situation developed, officials said additional units were dispatched after the scene shifted from a rescue response to a recovery operation.
The victim was later located using sonar equipment and removed from the water. Officials confirmed the person did not survive.
Emergency Crews Responded To Swimming Area
The Hodgeman County Sheriff’s Office said first responders were initially dispatched to the swimming area at HorseThief Reservoir after the report of a possible drowning.
The call quickly drew a multi-agency response, with local emergency crews and specialized search teams assisting at the scene.
Sheriff Walker said in a public update that more units were called in as the situation became a recovery effort. Search and recovery operations on water can require additional equipment and trained teams, especially when visibility and depth make locating a person difficult.
Victim Located By Sonar Unit
Shortly after 5 p.m., the Kansas Wildlife and Parks sonar unit located the individual in the water.
The victim was then removed from the reservoir. Despite the response from multiple agencies, officials said the person did not survive the incident.
The sheriff’s office has not released the victim’s name or identifying information. Authorities said that information is being withheld while the next-of-kin notification process is completed.
In the sheriff’s statement, officials extended condolences to the victim’s family during what they described as a very difficult time.
Multiple Agencies Assisted In Recovery
Several emergency response agencies helped with the search and recovery effort at HorseThief Reservoir.
The agencies listed by the sheriff’s office included Jetmore EMS and Fire, the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Sonar Unit, the Ford County Fire Dive Team, the Ford County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol.
The Kansas Highway Patrol assisted with both ground and air units. Garden City Fire Rescue also responded with boat and dive team support, while Ford County Communications assisted with coordination.
The large response reflected the seriousness of the emergency and the need for specialized water recovery resources.
Investigation And Notification Process Continue
Officials have not released additional details about what led to the drowning.
It was not immediately clear whether the person was swimming, boating or involved in another activity at the time of the incident. Authorities have also not said whether anyone else was in danger or injured.
The sheriff’s office said more information about the victim will not be released until the family notification process is complete.
A Saturday afternoon drowning at HorseThief Reservoir ended in tragedy after emergency crews recovered a person from the water.
The incident began with a 911 call about a possible drowning and later became a recovery effort involving several local, county and state agencies. Officials have not yet released the victim’s identity as they continue notifying family members.