- Five people died after entering the Scioto River on July 19-20, 2026, to help a struggling swimmer.
- The chain of rescue attempts began when one swimmer struggled; two entered to help and also struggled, then two more attempted a rescue.
- First responders pulled two women from the water; they were pronounced dead at hospitals. Recovery crews later found the bodies of three men.
- A distressed child running near the river alerted a motorist who called 911 at 9 p.m. on July 19.
- The group may have included two sets of parents and two children; the children under 10 who were on shore were placed with Delaware County Job and Family Services.
- No boat was at the scene. Multiple agencies assisted in the search, including fire departments, EMS, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and a dive team.
Five people drowned in Ohio's Scioto River on July 19 while attempting to rescue a struggling swimmer, according to authorities. The incident unfolded when a group gathered to enjoy a summer evening, which included fishing.12
Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer reported that one individual entered the water but began to struggle. In an attempt to help, two others also entered the river, leading to a tragic chain reaction.
"That's when the tragedy started to occur," Balzer stated.
A motorist alerted authorities after seeing a distraught child running along State Route 257, who informed them that family members were in the river. First responders quickly arrived and managed to pull two women from the water, but they were pronounced dead at local hospitals.
Recovery efforts resumed the following day, resulting in the discovery of three men's bodies. The group reportedly consisted of two sets of parents and their children, with the children on shore being under 10 years old. A language barrier complicated communication with the children present.
The two children are now in the care of Delaware County Job and Family Services.91011
Multiple agencies, including local fire departments and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, participated in the search and recovery efforts, utilizing boats and divers to scan the river and shoreline.121314
"There was no boat at the scene," Balzer confirmed during a news conference.
“The rescue chain began when one swimmer struggled, prompting two to enter and also struggle, then two more entered. A distraught child running along State Route 257 alerted a motorist who called 911, and recovery crews later found the bodies of three men after pulling two women from the water.”
