21-year old drowns at Fremont Slough Wildlife Area

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) - A Labor Day weekend tragedy in Lincoln County. Monday morning, the body 21-year old Brandan Freeman of North Platte was recovered from the Fremont Slough Wildlife Area lake known commonly as “Maui Lake.” After ending the search Sunday evening, members of the Lincoln County Dive Team recovered Freeman’s body at 8:30 a.m., Monday.

A 911 call was made at 8:35 p.m. on Sunday from the lake that runs parallel Interstate 80, east of North Platte, about one mile from the weigh station area. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department said the caller told them a man was duck hunting and swam out to get a downed bird. The subject went underwater and never surfaced.

Deputies, Conservation Officers with Nebraska Game and Parks, North Platte Fire and Rescue, and the Lincoln County Dive Team responded to the scene. Divers worked with Game and Parks to attempt to locate Freeman, but their efforts were hampered because of darkness and the search was called off for the evening.

On Monday, responders met back at the lake to resume the search. At approximately 8:30 a.m., members of the Lincoln County Dive Team recovered Freeman.