CEDAR RAPIDS – A recreational outing turned into a recovery operation Monday afternoon after an Iowa man drowned in the Cedar River while trying to retrieve fishing equipment.
Emergency responders from the Cedar Rapids Fire and Police departments were dispatched at approximately 4:34 p.m. on Monday, May 4, to the west side of the Cedar River near the 5-in-1 dam. Witnesses at the scene informed authorities that an Iowa man, identified as 33-year-old Dakota Freese of Cedar Rapids, had been fishing from the bridge when he accidentally dropped items into the water. According to reports, Freese went to the shoreline and waded into the river to recover his belongings.
Witnesses stated that Freese attempted to swim toward the area where the items had fallen but was pulled under by the current before he could return to the shore. He was last seen approximately 60 to 75 feet from the edge of the water. First responders immediately began an extensive search using boat crews, drone aircraft, and visual observation.
Following a joint effort by the Cedar Rapids Fire Department and the Johnson County Metro Dive Team, boat crews located Freese at approximately 7:10 p.m. He was found deceased just feet from where he was last seen disappearing underwater. Cedar Rapids Police and Fire officials are continuing to investigate the incident, and no further details have been released at this time.