A heartbreaking rescue attempt turned deadly over the weekend, resulting in the loss of five lives in a turbulent Ohio river.
The tragic incident occurred on Sunday at the Scioto River in Powell. It began when a swimmer found themselves in perilous waters, according to Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer.
Nearby, a group of individuals who had been fishing reacted quickly, rushing to the swimmer’s aid, only to become trapped by the river’s relentless current themselves.
“That’s when the tragedy began to unfold,” Balzer said. “One individual entered the river and was struggling. Two people followed in an attempt to rescue them, but they began struggling as well, prompting two more to enter the water.”
During the chaotic scene, a visibly distressed child ran along State Route 257, alerting a passing vehicle with the alarming news that his “family was in the river,” as recounted by Balzer.
The motorist quickly called 911. Several other calls were made to emergency services around 9.25pm on the night of the tragedy.
The sheriff said that two women were later pulled from the water and tragically pronounced dead at a hospital. The bodies of three men were found on Monday.
‘It’s not unusual for one person to be struggling in the water,’ said Sheriff Balzer.
‘Other people attempt to save them, yet they don’t have the skills to do that, so we end up with multiple deaths.’
Three men and two women died after attempting to rescue a person in their party that began to drown, said officials
Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer said at a news conference that boy running along state Route 257 was spotted by a driver who told him that his family was in the river
Before the tragedy Balzer said the group was enjoying their Sunday fishing, then one of them decided to go for a swim
There were two young children at the scene, ages 6 and 7. It was not immediately clear if their parents were among those found in the river.
‘There may have been two sets of parents, two children and then someone else,’ Sheriff Balzer said.
The sheriff’s office said the kids are in the care of Delaware County Job and Family Services.
Water conditions of the river on Sunday were high and fast, according to data from a US Geological Survey water gauge at the nearby dam.
The river was flowing at a rate of about 350 cubic feet per second, which is more than double the average rate.
Balzer warned swimmers to take safety precautions, especially during the summer months.
‘Anytime you’re near water, you need to be confident in your swimming ability or have safety devices available. There’s no shame in wearing a life jacket. It saves lives every day,’ he said.
The tragedy comes shortly after a 23-year-old woman lost her mother, stepdad, and three brothers in treacherous flash floods during a family hike in Utah.
The Sheriff said that two women were later found but were pronounced dead at a hospital. The bodies of three men were found on Monday
Water conditions of the river on Sunday were high and fast, according to data from a US Geological Survey water gauge at the nearby dam
Balzer warned swimmers to take safety precautions: ‘Anytime you’re near water, you need to be confident in your swimming ability or have safety devices available. There’s no shame in wearing a life jacket. It saves lives every day’
Spencer and Katrina Long, both 44, and their three sons, Thayne, 13, Gage, 12, and Reid, were swept away after ‘heavy rain’ came down on Friday near the Sunglow campground while they went hiking and canyoneering, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputies were first called to the campground that night after the body of a young man was found in the flood wash.
Spencer, a decorated Provo Fire Captain, and two of his sons, were located that night. His wife and their other son were discovered the following morning.