Ohio River Rescue Tragedy
Five people died after a rescue attempt for a struggling swimmer in the Ohio River.
July 20, 2026 · Updated Jul 20, 6:31pm ET
HuffPostAttempt To Save A Struggling Swimmer Leaves 5 Dead In An Ohio River
Associated Press5 dead in attempt to save a struggling swimmer in an Ohio river, sheriff says
FOX News5 dead in attempt to save a struggling swimmer in Ohio river
The GuardianFive people die in attempt to save struggling swimmer in Ohio river
ABC NewsAttempt to save a struggling swimmer leaves 5 dead in an Ohio river
Washington ExaminerFive dead after group attempts to save swimmer in Ohio
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Pano rates the coverage Balanced.
What happened
Five people died in the Scioto River near Powell, Ohio, after several members of a group entered the water Sunday evening to help a person who was struggling to swim. The group had gathered along the river during a fishing outing when one person went swimming, prompting others to jump in as the person struggled. Two women were pulled from the river Sunday night and later died at hospitals, while the bodies of three men were recovered Monday afternoon.
