29-year-old soldier drowns at Milford State Park despite bystanders' efforts

On Saturday, Aug. 31, Geary County Sheriff's Office staff and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks stated that a person had drowned at the south boat ramp, swim beach located in the Milford State Park.

According to the Sheriff's Office, bystanders located the individual, later identified as 29-year-old Pvt. Ismael Ouedraogo with the 5/15 Cec-A,  and provided CPR after he was underwater for more than 10 minutes. Geary County Sheriff's Office staff identified him on Tuesday, Sept. 3 after notifying his family.

When EMS staff arrived, they pronounced Ouedraogo deceased. Witnesses to the drowning said Oudraogo went under while swimming near some buoys and never re-surfaced. Although bystanders took life-saving measures, he was not able to be revived from the drowning.