According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 30-year-old Benjamin Hirner of Mokane, Missouri, was reported missing around 6:30 a.m. Friday morning, December 6, 2019, along the Missouri River west of Watson, Missouri. Hirner had been duck hunting when he attempted to retrieve a boat that was adrift. He drowned in the Missouri River waters and was recovered at approximately 11:42 a.m. by authorities.

At that time, Hirner was flown by an Army National Guard Helicopter to Nebraska Medicine in Omaha. He was pronounced dead at Nebraska Medicine at 3:26 p.m.

The Iowa DNR, Atchison County Emergency Management, Nebraska Air National Guard, and multiple first responders assisted with the investigation.

Ben leaves behind his wife, Alissa, and two children, Garrett, age four, and Anna, age one. A GoFundMe page was set up following Ben’s passing and quickly surpassed the goal.