5 dead in attempt to save a struggling swimmer in Ohio river

An attempt to save a struggling swimmer in an Ohio river left five people dead over the weekend, authorities said Monday .

A group gathered Sunday evening at the Scioto River in Powell, a Columbus suburb, when one of them went into the water to go swimming.

"And that’s when the tragedy started to occur," Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer said at a news conference Monday. Others then jumped into the river in an attempt to help the swimmer.

"I understand that one person got in the river, was struggling in the water.