Tragic Drowning Incident in Scioto River Claims Five Lives

In a tragic event on the Scioto River in Powell, Ohio, five individuals lost their lives while attempting to rescue a person struggling to swim. The group initially went to the river for a fishing trip on July 20, 2026, as reported by the Delaware County Sheriff.

A motorist noticed a distressed child, part of the group, running along a nearby road seeking assistance and shouting for “mama.” This prompted an emergency call to 911, according to Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer during a news conference on Monday. Currently, two children under the age of 10 are under the supervision of family services, including the child who alerted motorists.

According to Balzer, the group believed to have gone fishing decided to swim in the river. One person faced difficulties in the water, prompting others to jump in to help. This resulted in a tragic sequence of events as those who attempted to aid also began to struggle.

Search and rescue teams scoured the area on Sunday, recovering two women who were later pronounced dead at a hospital. The bodies of three men were found the following Monday, as confirmed by Tracy Whited, a spokesperson for the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department.

The next steps involve notifying the victims’ next of kin.

This incident unfolded shortly after a separate tragedy in southern Utah, where a flash flood during a hiking trip claimed the lives of five family members.