Fisherman drowns while trying to swim to shore from canoe, New Hampshire police say

A man fishing from a canoe on a New Hampshire pond was later seen in the water while gripping the canoe, police said.

Witnesses called police at about 9:18 a.m. Tuesday, May 10 and reported seeing the fisherman in the water of Milton Three Pond, also called Northeast Pond, in Milton, according to a Facebook post from New Hampshire State Police.

“At some point the man let go of the canoe and attempted to swim to shore,” police said. “Witnesses state he swam approximately 8 feet and then went under water and never resurfaced again.”

One of the witnesses entered the water to try to reach the fisherman where he disappeared, but the onlooker was unable to find him. The fisherman was not wearing a life jacket, according to police.

Marine Patrol officers began a search, and at about 1 p.m., police say they found the man’s body.

Police identified the fisherman as Sonethanong Khongsouvankham, from New Market. He was born in 1978, making him about 44 years old.

Anyone with additional information on the drowning is asked to contact Marine Patrol Sergeant Steve O’Connor at 603-227-2114 or Stephen.J.O’Connor@dos.nh.gov.

Northeast Pond lies along the border of southeast New Hampshire and Maine.

This story was originally published May 10, 2022 at 6:52 PM with the headline "Fisherman drowns while trying to swim to shore from canoe, New Hampshire police say."