A man was found dead after falling into a canal Monday afternoon in Rancho Cordova, authorities said.

Crews with the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District were dispatched to the area of Sunrise Boulevard and Sunrise Gold Circle following reports of a person in the water.

Fire officials stated the man had been walking along the canal when he fell in. Rescue teams, including a boat response unit, began searching the water and later found the man submerged beneath the surface.

Despite rescue efforts, Metro Fire said he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office has taken over the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Authorities have not released the man’s identity.

Fire officials urged the public to use caution around waterways, noting that canals can pose dangers such as steep embankments, fast-moving currents and limited access points.