Five dead after group attempts to save struggling swimmer in Ohio river

A tragic chain of events unfolded on the Scioto River in Ohio, resulting in the deaths of five individuals who attempted to rescue a struggling swimmer.

The incident occurred Sunday along the river in Powell, a suburb of Columbus. Authorities were alerted when a motorist spotted a frightened child running on a nearby road. The child had been part of a group gathered by the river when one member entered the water to swim.

According to Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer, the situation escalated when others jumped into the river to help the initial swimmer, who was also struggling. Tragically, these rescuers also began to face difficulties in the water.

Rescue crews searched the river on Sunday, locating the bodies of two women who were later pronounced dead at a hospital. On Monday, the bodies of three men were recovered from the river, confirmed Tracy Whited, a spokesperson for the Delaware County Sheriff's Department. Two children under the age of 10, including the child who sought help, have been placed in the care of family services.

This tragedy occurred just two days after five members of a family perished in southern Utah when a flash flood swept through canyons during a hiking trip.

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And that's when the tragedy started to occur.