Okla. Father and Son Drown After Trying to Save Sister in Rising Floodwaters, Officials Say

A father and son died after they were swept away by rising floodwaters in northeastern Oklahoma, authorities said.

Lloyd and William Eubanks were found after a multi-agency search on Saturday, Nov. 9 at about 8 a.m., according to a news release from Wagoner County Emergency Management.

William, 27, entered the water after his sister slipped in a low-water slab while trying to clear debris from the area on the evening of Friday, Nov. 8, authorities noted. Lloyd, 54, also tried to save his daughter but the two men lost their footing and slipped under the water.

Before they were swept away, the son was able to guide his sister to a nearby tree where she was able to free herself from the water, Fox affiliate KOKI-TV reported.

The woman called 911 and emergency responders descended on the scene near Haskell, where the men disappeared.

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Swift-water teams and drones were used in the rescue operation before it was called off on Friday. The next morning, the bodies of the men were found, Wagoner County Emergency Management said.

With the area receiving a large amount of rain in a short period last week after a recent drought, authorities cautioned others to heed flood warnings and flooded areas.

“We had amassed a lot of resources out here last night and today to perform this search and recovery,” Jeff Smith, director of Muskogee County Emergency Management, said according to CBS affiliate KOTV. “We do not enjoy this. We do not enjoy responding to things like this.”

He added, "This is not a playing matter. This is not a joke. Whenever you go into these high waters, you not only risk your life, but you risk the lives of first responders.”