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A desperate attempt to rescue a struggling swimmer from a fast-flowing Ohio river left five people dead over the weekend.
The group was gathered at the Scioto River in Powell on Sunday when one person went for a swim and got into trouble, Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer said.
Others from the same group who had been fishing nearby raced into the water to help, but they also got stuck in the water.
'That's when the tragedy started to occur. I understand that one person got in the river, was struggling in the water. Two people went in to try to save them,' he explained. 'Those people started struggling in the river, Now we have two additional people go in the water.'
As the horrific ordeal unfolded, a 'clearly distraught,' child ran along State Route 257 and told a driver that his 'family was in the river,' according to Balzer.
Tragic rescue attempt claims five
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.'
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.
Sheriff issues urgent water warning
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.
Tragedy follows Utah flash flood
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.
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.
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