VIDALIA &045; Charles Edward Freeman, a 20-year-old resident of Vidalia, drowned in Old River late Tuesday night, according to a report from the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Freeman was apparently with four other men when their boat capsized on a bar pit.

According to Capt. John Ferrington with Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, the men started to swim to a safe area but Freeman may have panicked &045; which caused the drowning.

Ferrington said the other men tried to go back to rescue Freeman, but he was bringing them down along with himself.

Freeman’s father, Charles Freeman, called the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office to report the accident.

Sgt. Todd Ainsworth and Deputy Junior Tarver of the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries and Metro Rural Ambulance service responded to the call. The agencies who responded searched the waterway until they located the body at 12:05 a.m. Wednesday.

Freeman, who was born in Natchez, is survived by his father, Charles Raymond Freeman of Vidalia; his mother, Audrey Cox of Vidalia; two sisters, Melissa Beach of Natchez and Randi Cox of Vidalia; and his grandfather, George Freeman of Ferriday.

Funeral services are set for 1 p.m. Friday at Laird Funeral Home in Natchez.