West Midlands Police have confirmed the death of three boys—aged 8, 10, and 11—who fell into a frozen lake at a park in Solihull.
A fourth boy, aged 6, remains in a critical condition at Birmingham Children’s Hospital after being rescued by emergency services, including an officer who attempted to punch through ice.
Witnesses, who initially jumped into the water, reported seeing “children falling into a frozen lake” at Kingfisher Country Park, in Kingshurst, at around 2.40pm on Sunday.
Upon approaching the scene within minutes of the first call, Superintendent Richard Harris said all police entered the lake with no care for their own safety or with any special clothing. He added officers were still trying to establish the details of the incident and could not say how long the trio had been in the water before emergency services arrived.
“The boys’ deaths are a tragedy beyond words,” Richard Stanton from the local fire and rescue service said at a news conference, adding: “Yesterday’s incident is a stark reminder to us all of the dangers of open water, especially during the winter months.”
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was “devastating news for the family and friends” of the boys. “This is a tragic incident,” he said.
“The Prime Minister’s thoughts are with them and obviously he passes his thanks to the emergency services who are continuing to work and provide support.”
Source: Complex.com