News Release Lincoln County Sheriff's Office
Update Sept. 7, 2:20 p.m.
Authorities have identified the man who drowned at Maui Lake as Brandan Freeman, 21, of North Platte.
A GoFundMe account has been established to help with Brandan's final expenses. You can find the account HERE.
Brandan's obituary can be viewed HERE.
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On Sept. 5, at 8:35 p.m., the Lincoln County 911 Center received a call of a subject drowning at Fremont Slough Wildlife Area.
This lake is commonly called Maui Lake and is located just east of North Platte along Interstate 80.
The caller advised a male subject 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 the missing person, but their efforts were hampered because of darkness and the search was called off for the evening.
On September 6, 2021, the above personnel met back at the lake to resume the search.
At approximately 8:30 a.m., members of the Lincoln County Dive Team recovered the body of the missing subject.
The name of the subject is being withheld until Sept. 7, pending notification of relatives.
The case is accidental and no foul play is suspected.