Five people died on a river in Ohio after several of them went into the water to help another person who was struggling to swim, authorities said Monday.
A motorist called 911 after spotting a frightened child who had been with the group and was running on a nearby road calling out “mama,” Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer said at a news conference Monday.
Two children younger than 10 have been placed in the care of family services, the sheriff said, including the child who ran for help.
Balzer said the group is believed to have gone fishing Sunday along the Scioto River in the Columbus suburb of Powell when one of them went into the river to swim.
“And that’s when the tragedy started to occur,” Balzer said, as the others who jumped in to help also began struggling.
The river was running high and fast on Sunday, according to data from a U.S. Geological Survey water gauge at the nearby dam.
The data shows the water was flowing at a rate of about 350 cubic feet per second — more than a fourfold increase over a three-day span, and more than double the average rate.
Rescue crews searching the water on Sunday found two women, who were pronounced dead at a hospital, Balzer said. The bodies of three men were found in the river on Monday, said Tracy Whited, a spokesperson for the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department.
Officials said the next step will be notifying the next of kin for each of the victims.
The tragedy occurred two days after five members of a family were killed in southern Utah after a flash flood swept through canyons during a hiking trip.
Balzer said people who gather near water must be aware of the conditions and take precautions.
“Know your skill level before you get in the water. Are you a confident swimmer?” Balzer said. “Make sure you have other people around in case something goes wrong to notify someone.”
