When it comes to water rescues, common advice is to reach for someone who’s in trouble or throw a floatable to them, but to not enter the water to save the struggling person without the proper gear and training to do so. The reasoning behind the advice to not enter the water for a rescue stems from how when someone is struggling in the water, there’s a chance that a would-be rescuer will end up in the same dangerous situation or that the panicked person who may be drowning will end up pulling a would-be rescuer under, as well. Many times, this has turned what would have been one death into a multiple death scenario. Tragically, this reality was put on display during a recent incident that unfolded in Ohio on Sunday, and the hard lesson learned from the situation applies to outdoor recreators in Colorado, too.

According to a report from the Associated Press, five people died on the Scioto River in the Columbus suburb of Powell after one person went into the water for a swim and four others entered the water once the initial person started to struggle. In total, two women and three men of the same group died.

Per ABC News, a passing motorist spotted a distraught child seeking help along the state highway and called emergency services when the child said his family was in the river. Initially, two people had entered the water in attempt to save the struggling swimmer, followed by two more entering the river when the initial two rescuers started to struggle. It’s believed that two sets of parents are among the five dead, with the person who entered the water to swim one of the five deceased, as well.

The full size of the group wasn’t noted, though two children under the age of 10 were put in the care of family services.

A tragic scenario all around, this situation is important to keep in mind in the event of a need for rescue on one of Colorado’s waterways. If there’s a need for a water rescue, remember the following: reach (the person with a branch or object from the shore), throw (something that floats to the person in need of help, preferably something with a rope on it that can be used to pull them to safety), row (if a boat is available, the person may be reachable via watercraft – just be cautious of the potential for flipping the craft), and don’t go (or if you’re going anywhere, it should be to find help from a rescue professional). It’s also absolutely crucial to always wear a life jacket when in and around the water. Having an extra floatation device on your watercraft to throw to someone in need can be a good idea, too.

Sincere condolences go out to those impacted by the deaths addressed in this piece.

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