Five people died after several adults entered Ohio’s Scioto River while attempting to rescue a swimmer who was struggling in the water, authorities said.
The search-and-rescue operation began on Sunday night when a motorist noticed a visibly distressed child running beside a state highway near the river. Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer said the child told the driver that his family members were in the water.
The motorist immediately contacted emergency services.
Two Women Pulled From the River
First responders arrived at the scene and recovered two women from the river. Both were transported to nearby hospitals but were later pronounced dead.
Search teams continued looking for three men who were also believed to have entered the water. Their bodies were recovered on Monday, according to Delaware County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tracy Whited.
Fishing Trip Turns Tragic
Authorities believe the group had been fishing along the Scioto River in Powell, north of Columbus, on Sunday evening.
At some point, one adult entered the river to swim and began experiencing difficulty. Two other people went into the water in an attempt to rescue the swimmer, but they also started struggling.
Two additional adults then entered the river to help, bringing the total number of people in the water to five.
Officials believe the person who initially struggled in the river was among those who died.
Two Sets of Parents Believed Among Victims
Sheriff Balzer said two sets of parents are believed to be among the five deceased individuals.
The victims’ names and further identifying information have not yet been released because authorities are continuing to notify their next of kin.
The exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.
Two Children Placed in Protective Care
Two children under the age of 10 were reportedly with the group when the tragedy occurred. Both children have since been placed in the care of family services.
The Scioto River incident turned a family fishing trip into a devastating tragedy after multiple adults attempted to rescue a struggling swimmer.
Authorities continue to investigate the sequence of events while supporting the surviving children and notifying the victims’ relatives.