Five Dead After Rescue Attempt at Ohio River Turns Fatal
Five people died in the Scioto River near Powell, Ohio, after multiple rescuers entered the water to help a struggling swimmer, authorities said.
A rescue effort on Sunday evening at the Scioto River in Powell, Ohio, resulted in five fatalities, local officials said. According to Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer, a person entered the river to swim and began struggling, prompting two others to jump in to assist. Those rescuers also encountered difficulty, leading two additional people to enter the water.
Around 9 p.m., a child in the group ran onto a nearby road and was seen by a motorist who called 911. The child reported that family members were in the river. First responders arrived and later confirmed that two women had died and were pronounced dead at a hospital. The bodies of three men were recovered the following day, according to Tracy Whited, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s department. Identities have not been released.
No boat was present at the scene, and investigators have not determined whether alcohol contributed to the incident. Two children under ten who were part of the group have been placed under the care of family services. Sheriff Balzer urged the public to keep life vests and other safety devices readily available when near bodies of water.