MASSILLON, Ohio — Massillon police and firefighters rescued five teen boys from a storm drain after they were swept away by strong currents in heavy rain Monday afternoon.
All escaped with only minor cuts and bruises.
A total of six teens, between the ages of 13 and 15, were playing in the rain-swollen Sippo Creek after a heavy downpour that lasted 20 minutes.
According to Massillon police, one of the teens lost his footing and was taken away by the currents. Another teen told officers that the remaining boys tried to form a human chain to rescue him, but then they were all swept away.
One managed to make it to high ground, and called 911.
Officer Aaron Franklin was the first to arrive on the scene in the 800 block of Tremont Ave SW, and started recording the intense rescue on his police body camera.
"They were visibly distraught," said Franklin. "It was near-death for them."
After firefighters pulled out the first two teens who were near the water's edge, Fire Chief Tom Burgasser harnessed up, tethered to about 300 feet of rope to retrieve two more teens who were further inside the drainage pipe.
But the sixth teen was nowhere nearby. He had escaped the most harrowing experience of all.
Police say he managed to make it to the surface on his own, after traveling inside the pitch-black maze of underground pipes, which drained into a reservoir about a mile away.
"I think they understand the reality of how bad it really could have been," said Lt. Michael Maier of the Massillon Police Department. "Not only do they put their lives in danger, but first responders do, too, every time we have to go into water like this. ... There were some really angry parents. Some kids are probably going to be grounded for the rest of the summer."