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Western Nebraska man drowns in North Platte River

HERSHEY, Neb. (AP) — Sheriff’s deputies in western Nebraska say a 23-year-old man has died after falling into the North Platte River and becoming trapped in an irrigation gate.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that it received a report of a possible drowning around 4:30 a.m. Saturday. Deputies and a rescue team responded and found 23-year-old Matthew Bruning’s body trapped underwater in the gate. His body was recovered a few hours later.

A witness told investigators that Bruning was standing on the gate structure when he fell in.

His death has been ruled an accident.

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