Five people, including two women and three men, drowned in Ohio's Scioto River on July 19 after a chain reaction of rescue attempts turned deadly, according to Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer.
The incident unfolded in Powell, a suburb of Columbus, when a member of the group entered the river for a swim. "That's when the tragedy started to occur," Balzer said at a Monday news conference, explaining that additional group members jumped into the water attempting to assist the struggling swimmer, only to find themselves in danger as well.
Emergency responders were alerted to the crisis when a passing motorist dialed 911 after noticing a terrified child from the group sprinting along a road near the river in search of help.
Bodies Recovered Over 2 Days
Search teams combing the river on July 19 located two women who did not survive; they were declared dead after being transported to a hospital. The search resumed, and on Monday, crews recovered the remains of three men from the river, according to Tracy Whited, a spokesperson for the Delaware County Sheriff's Department. Neither disclosed the precise locations within the river where the victims were found.Fast-Moving Water Cited as Factor
River conditions on the day of the drownings were unusually hazardous, based on readings from a U.S. Geological Survey gauge positioned near a dam close to the scene. That data indicated the Scioto was moving at roughly 350 cubic feet, or about 10 cubic meters, per second on July 19—a rate that had quadrupled over the prior three days and stood at more than twice the river's typical flow.The Ohio deaths came just two days after a separate, unrelated disaster in southern Utah, where five members of a family were killed when a flash flood struck as they hiked through narrow red rock canyons.
"It is believed the family fell victim to flooding caused by heavy rains," the sheriff's office said in a news release.
The young boy who ran for help, prompting the 911 call, has since been placed under the supervision of family services, Balzer said, along with a second child under age 10 who was also part of the group. Balzer added that authorities were still working to reach relatives of those who died to notify them of the losses.
Sheriff Urges Caution Near Water
Balzer used the news conference to caution the public about entering rivers and other bodies of water without first assessing conditions and personal ability. "Know your skill level before you get in the water. Are you a confident swimmer?" Balzer said, urging swimmers to only enter water when others are nearby who could alert emergency services if something goes wrong.The Associated Press contributed to this report.