Two of five individuals who drowned in the Scioto River in Powell, Ohio, on Sunday, after attempting to rescue a struggling swimmer, have been identified as Jose Mario Pineda Dias, 33, and Marina Suyapa Regalado, 28, a married couple from Honduras. Their two young children, ages six and seven, were present at the scene during the incident.
Officials stated that the group was fishing when one member entered the water and began to struggle. Four others then entered the river in an attempt to help, but also became distressed. All five, including the initial swimmer, ultimately died.
"I understand that one person got in the river, was struggling in the water. Two people went in to try to save them," Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer stated. "Those people started struggling in the river. Now we have two additional people go in the water."
A motorist reported seeing a distressed young boy, who was only wearing a towel, running along State Route 257 and stating that his "family was in the river." The driver contacted 911, reporting the boy was crying and screaming "Mama! Mama!" and expressed concern he might go onto a multi-lane road adjacent to the river.
First responders arrived and found the two children. A language barrier complicated efforts to determine the number of people in distress. Dispatch audio indicated that officers found clothes and shoes in the water. Spanish-speaking assistance was requested to communicate with the children.
Two women were pulled from the water and transported to a local hospital, where they were pronounced dead. The search continued into the night, transitioning from a rescue to a recovery operation. The bodies of three men were recovered on Monday.
Water conditions in the Scioto River on Sunday were described as high and fast, with a flow rate of approximately 350 cubic feet per second, more than double the average, according to a U.S. Geological Survey water gauge. Sheriff Balzer advised caution near water, especially during summer months, recommending swimming ability checks and the use of safety devices like life jackets. Lt. Heather Byers of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources cautioned that rivers can appear deceptively calm and that submerged objects or currents can pose hazards.
The Honduran Foreign Ministry is working with U.S. authorities to facilitate the repatriation of the victims' bodies. The two surviving children are in the care of the state of Ohio, with efforts planned to reunite them with relatives in Honduras. 
