A Milwaukee man drowned Sunday night after falling into the Milwaukee River at the Humboldt Avenue Bridge while swinging on a branch that broke, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office.
24-year-old Avery Meeks was at Caesar Park with his girlfriend on Sunday, July 12, 2020 when they ended up at the bridge.
The bridge has rails underneath it. Meeks placed a large stick over the rails and was sliding over the water when he asked his girlfriend to take a video.
The stunt went wrong when the branch snapped and Meeks fell into the water before being swept under by a strong current.
Meeks reappeared above the water about a minute after falling in, but his girlfriend and others nearby were unable to fight the current.
The Milwaukee Fire Department says a strong swirl can occur in that area after recent rainfall.
Meeks’ body was found Tuesday night about 20 to 30 feet away from where he fell in.
