Man Rescued After Jumping Off Bridge Into Elkhorn River

An individual was rescued in the Elkhorn River early Saturday evening after jumping off of a bridge just east of Oakdale.

Antelope County Sheriff Bob Moore said officials were notified of a missing person around 6:40 p.m. who had jumped into the river from the bridge east of Oakdale. Moore said those individuals with the man lost sight of him after he jumped into the river.

​Mikel D. Palmer, 19, of Hastings drifted to the next bridge near Tilden and was pulled out there. Moore said Palmer and those who pulled him out of the water returned to the bridge from where he jumped and met rescue personnel.

“We tell people not to jump off the bridge. It's our fear that there will be a fatality,” Moore said. “It's one thing to go swimming in the river, but it's another thing to jump off of a bridge. The current is constantly changing. There are trees floating in it, and it's dangerous.”

​Moore said law enforcement has repeatedly warned individuals not to jump into the river.

"We don't have the manpower to sit down at the bridge all day, and kids are not yielding to the dangers," Moore said. "We need parents and others to help stop kids from jumping into the river. It's just too dangerous." 

Multiple rescue personnel were called to assist in the missing person situation, including the Antelope County Sheriff's Department, Oakdale Volunteer Fire Department and Neligh Rescue.