Five Dead After Rescue Attempt at Ohio River

Five people died in Powell, Ohio, after several individuals entered the Scioto River to aid a swimmer who was struggling, authorities said. A motorist called 911 after seeing a frightened child run along a nearby road to seek help, Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer said at a news conference. The incident began on Sunday when a person jumped into the river for a swim and others followed to assist, leading to multiple people becoming distressed in the water. Rescue crews recovered two women’s bodies on Sunday, later pronounced dead at a hospital, and three men’s bodies were found on Monday, according to sheriff’s department spokesperson Tracy Whited. The child who sought help and another child under ten have been placed under family services care. Balzer urged the public to assess swimming ability, use life preservers, and keep others nearby when entering water. The Scioto River, which flows through Columbus before joining the Ohio River, reaches depths of up to 40 feet in the area where the victims were found, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.