Five people, including two sets of parents, died while trying to rescue a struggling swimmer in the Scioto River in Ohio on Sunday night, July 19. The incident occurred when a group of five adults, two children, and another individual were out fishing on the river to enjoy a summer evening, according to Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer.
Chain of rescue attempts leads to tragedy
At some point, one adult entered the water to swim and began struggling. Two other adults dove in to try to save them, but they also began to struggle. Then two more adults went in to help, Balzer explained. None of them made it out of the river alive. The river was running high and fast, flowing at a rate of 350 cubic feet per second on Sunday, more than double the average rate, according to data from a US Geological Survey water gauge at the nearby dam.
Discovery of the incident
Authorities were alerted after a motorist noticed a clearly distraught young child running along a nearby road around 9 p.m. and called 911. The terrified child told police that his family was in the river. Two women were pulled from the river and taken to nearby hospitals, where they were pronounced dead. The bodies of three men were recovered later on Monday, July 20, from the river in Powell, north of Columbus, according to Tracy Whited, a spokesperson for the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office.
Victims and survivors
Two sets of parents were among the five killed, the sheriff added. Their deaths left several children orphaned. Two young children under the age of 10 who were with the group have been placed in family services, Balzer said. Authorities have not yet publicly identified the five people who drowned, and the exact circumstances around their deaths remain unclear.
Safety warnings from officials
Balzer urged people to ensure they have proper safety devices and are confident in their swimming abilities before going into the water. The tragedy highlights the dangers of swift river currents and the risks of attempting rescues without proper equipment.
