Five people died after a rescue attempt in Ohio’s Scioto River turned into a tragedy when several members of a group entered the water to help a struggling swimmer, authorities said.
The incident happened Sunday evening along the Scioto River near the O’Shaughnessy Reservoir in Powell, a suburb northwest of Columbus. According to Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer, the group had gathered by the river to spend time together and fish when one person entered the water for a swim.
“That’s when the tragedy started to occur,” Balzer said. The swimmer began struggling in the river, prompting two others to jump in to help. When those rescuers also encountered difficulty, two more people entered the water in an effort to save them.
At about 9 PM, a passing motorist spotted a frightened young child running along a nearby road seeking help. The driver called 911 after the child reportedly said that his family was in the river.
Rescue Operation Ends With Five Fatalities
Emergency crews responded and recovered two adult women from the river on Sunday. They were transported to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
Search operations continued overnight, and on Monday rescue crews recovered the bodies of three adult men from the river, bringing the death toll to five.
Authorities said two children, ages 6 and 7, who had been with the group were placed in the care of Delaware County family services. Sheriff Balzer said authorities were working to notify relatives of the victims and determine how those in the group were related. He said there may have been two sets of parents, two children and another individual.
Officials said there did not appear to be a strong undertow in that section of the river. The sheriff urged people to be aware of their swimming abilities and wear life jackets when entering the water, emphasizing that they can save lives.
The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is ongoing, noting that investigators have faced challenges because of the children’s ages, the trauma they experienced and a slight language barrier.