Name Released in Cedar Rapids Drowning Death
Authorities have released additional details about the man who died following a drowning incident in the Cedar River near the 5-in-1 Dam on Monday afternoon.
According to a press release from the Cedar Rapids Fire Department, emergency crews including the Cedar Rapids Police Department responded just after 4:30 PM on May 4th. Reports stated that an adult male had entered the Cedar River near the dam, was in distress, and had not resurfaced after going under.
Witnesses reported the man had been fishing from a bridge when he accidentally dropped some fishing equipment into the water. He proceeded to wade from the shoreline to retrieve the items and attempted to swim farther downstream after they drifted away. He was last seen approximately 60 to 75 feet from shore before going underwater.
Search and rescue efforts were launched immediately, including boat crews, shoreline searches, and drone assistance from the Cedar Rapids Police Department. The Johnson County Metro Dive Team also assisted in the operation. At approximately 7:10 PM, dive teams located the man just feet from where he was last seen. He was recovered deceased and later identified as 33-year-old Dakota Freese.
Additional reporting from CBS 2 News noted Freese had a background in baseball and was drafted twice during his athletic career. He was first selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 34th round of the 2011 MLB amateur draft following his time at Washington High School in Cedar Rapids. He was later drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 12th round of the 2013 draft while attending Des Moines Area Community College in Boone.
Please remember that as fishing, boating, and swimming season gets underway, river environments near dams present dangerous and rapidly changing conditions. Even strong or experienced swimmers can be affected by powerful currents, turbulence, and hydraulic forces that occur near dams. Low-head dams in particular can generate recirculating currents that trap objects or individuals in circulating water zones. Additionally, unpredictable currents, submerged debris, and sudden depth changes in the Cedar River further increase risks.