Solihull - Four children die in icy lake tragedy near Birmingham UK

A search and rescue operation is under way after police said a number of people pulled from a lake near Birmingham in freezing temperatures are in a critical condition. Reports suggested people had been playing on the ice at Babbs Mill Park and fell through, according to West Midlands Fire Service. Those people had received treatment before being taken to hospital.

Specialist teams and equipment are involved in the search. It was likely that the emergency service presence would remain there for a number of hours, she added.

Babbs Mill Park is a local nature reserve with a lake, river, wildflower grasslands and woodlands. Temperatures of 1C (34F) were reported in the area at the time the emergency services were called. They are expected to plummet to -3C during the night.

Icy lakes are a phenomenon nowadays and, inevitably, will attract those unaware of the perils … :slightly_frowning_face:

Kids fell through the ice, from what I can gather.

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Yes they were on the ice, but it says there were 6 and they’ve only got 4 out.

BBC News - Four children fall into icy lake near Birmingham

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Three boys aged eight, 10 and 11 have died after falling into an icy lake near Solihull on Sunday.

They were rushed to hospital after being pulled from the water, West Midlands Police said.

A fourth boy, aged six, remains in a critical condition in hospital. It is thought they had been playing on ice in Babbs Mill Park, in Kingshurst.

In a statement on Monday, police said the boys were unable to be revived and thoughts were with family and friends.

Searches of the lake are continuing as police seek to establish exactly what happened and if anyone else fell into the water.

A tragedy indeed … :cry:

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Horrible.

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Gawd, what a Christmas their families are going to have. It’s heartbreaking.

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I agree…its so incredibly sad. Poor little kids.

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Oh no, that’s heartbreaking.

Poor, poor little kiddies, my heart goes out to their parents.

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OMG this is so awful , poor babies , my heart is very sad :two_hearts:

Superintendent Richard Harris, of West Midlands Police, told reporters: “One of my officers was trying to punch through the ice to actually rescue the children.”

I can imagine the desperation … :scream:

My heart goes out to the families and to the authorities who sadly have to get those poor little souls out.
God bless them all.

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Poor little kids. It seems the 10 year old went to help them and he died. All so very sad.

Brave Police And Fire Service people who risked their own lives. Great paramedics who did their best to save the boys.

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In freezing cold temperatures this young children one just 6 years old for goodness sake , where were their parents while these poor little souls were on the frozen lake !!

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From what I remember of my childhood though, “going round to friends house” for example, doesn’t always mean that you stay there. Plus I do think I slid around with others on the local pond once or twice as well. These children were all together (related too), so their parents probably assumed they were ok. Very wrong, of course, in this day and age, and the parents will carry that guilt with them all their lives…the “if only…”, I mean.

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Update. Sadly the fourth boy has passed away.

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Heart breaking totally heart-breaking

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