AP Exclusive: A boater's photo may be 'the last picture' of group drowned in an Ohio river

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Marcus L. Martin felt instant trepidation Sunday erstwhile helium saw 5 adults wading thigh- and waist-deep successful the Scioto River. A predominant boater connected the Ohio waterway, the Baptist pastor knew the country wherever they were lasting to beryllium treacherous. He believes the radical helium captured successful a photograph to beryllium the ill-fated radical that drowned that day.

“I conscionable retrieve being taught that country was benignant of dangerous, successful the consciousness of determination being steep slopes” and a speedy drop-off into the river, helium told The Associated Press. A fewer years earlier, Martin had warned a brace of young radical playing successful the h2o astatine that aforesaid spot to “be precise careful.”

He saw 5 adults successful the h2o and 2 children playing connected the grassy slope nearby, tracking the statement of the radical provided by Delaware County authorities aft the drownings.

Pastor whitethorn person taken ‘the past picture’ of the group

Martin and his household floated distant to bask a beauteous summertime evening. But erstwhile they returned past the spot astir 2 hours aboriginal and saw the radical inactive wading successful the river, Martin thought to drawback a photo.

“I don't cognize what it was. I said, I conscionable request to seizure this picture,” helium said.

Martin said helium knows the country good from 10 years of boating determination and considered informing the radical of the imaginable danger. But, dissimilar erstwhile he'd warned the 2 radical earlier, determination were 2 oregon 3 boats betwixt him and them and helium didn't privation to transverse betwixt them and origin excessively galore waves successful the water.

He's been losing slumber implicit the determination since quality broke of 5 radical drowning that afternoon. It feels “surreal,” helium said.

“I judge the representation I took whitethorn person been the past representation of them being alive,” helium said.

The representation didn't drawback authorities' archetypal interest

Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer has said authorities judge 1 of the adults began struggling to aquatics and the others successively went to that person's aid. All 5 were swept nether and died. The 2 women’s bodies were recovered Sunday and the 3 different bodies a time later.

Neither Balzer's bureau nor the section EMS bureau instantly responded to requests for verification of the photograph and those who look successful it.

Martin said helium feels definite the radical helium photographed is of the 5 radical who perished Sunday; it's uncommon to spot radical sportfishing oregon swimming successful that agelong of the river. He said helium attempted to stock the representation with some instrumentality enforcement and a quality newsman astatine the country the time aft the drownings, but nary 1 seemed interested.

Honduran authorities confirmed Tuesday that 4 of the 5 adults were Honduran citizens. One was Jose Mario Pineda Dias, 33, different his woman Marina Suyapa Regalado, 28. The names of the different mates and the 5th idiosyncratic would beryllium released erstwhile their families could beryllium notified of their deaths, a spokesperson for Balzer said Wednesday.

U.S., Honduras inactive moving to place victims, assistance children

A Honduran embassy said the authorities is successful interaction with the victims' families and assisting section authorities successful verifying their identities. In a statement, it added that Honduras stands acceptable to repatriate immoderate of the victims should relatives petition that — a process that could instrumentality six weeks.

An 8-year-old and a 10-year-old, children of 1 of the couples, were orphaned by the tragedy. A lad shouting for his parent was spotted by a passing operator connected the time of the mishap and reported to 911.

Scott Varner, a spokesperson for Franklin County Children Services, said the youngsters person been successful the agency's attraction since Monday and that they are moving with relatives and household friends successful Columbus who are providing them with a impermanent home. The children were provided with therapy dogs arsenic they coped with the trauma, helium said.

The Honduran embassy connection said the consulate has checked successful with household members astir their well-being and stands acceptable to assistance erstwhile relatives marque a determination connected adjacent steps for the children.

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