Three boys have died after falling through ice in Solihull
A fourth boy remains in a critical condition
Last updated 12th Dec 2022
Three young boys have died after falling through the ice into the lake at Babbs Mill Park in Kingshurst, Solihull yesterday.
Police confirmed that the three boys, aged 11, 10 and 8 years old, who were rushed to hospital after being pulled from the water, couldn't be revived.
A fourth boy, aged 6, remains in a critical condition in hospital.
Police added that searches of the lake are continuing to establish whether anyone else fell into the water, following reports that as many as six children may have been involved.
Temperatures are thought to have plunged to 1C (34F) in the area at the time of the incident, falling to -3C (26F) overnight.
What happened at Babbs Mill Park?
Emergency services were called to Babbs Mill Park in Kingshurst, a nature park in Solihull, at 2.36pm on Sunday 11th December, with reports from the scene and social media indicating that children had been playing on the ice and had fallen through into the lake.
Local fire, police and ambulance chiefs told a press conference on Sunday evening that four children were rescued from the water in cardiac arrest and taken to hospital in a critical condition, while a search operation continued amid fears two more children were involved in the incident.
Emergency services were called to Babbs Mill Park in Kingshurst, a nature park in Solihull, at 2.36pm on Sunday, with reports that children had been playing on the ice and had fallen through into the lake.
Divers from Nottinghamshire Police searched Babbs Mill Lake through the night after it was thought 2 people might still be missing after 4 others were rescued after falling through the thin ice and taken to hospital.
Rescue crews also searched the water at Babbs Mill Lake by boat through the night.
As searches at the lake continued to look for the possibility that anyone else had been in the water, it was confirmed that three of the four boys who had been rescued had sadly died.
Police confirmed that three boys, aged 11, 10 and 8 years old, who were rushed to hospital after being pulled from the water, couldn't be revived.
In a briefing later on Monday, Police and Fire bosses said while they continued to search the lake, there were no other children reported missing at this time.
They also described rescue efforts of both the public and officers first on scene, one of whom had to be treated for hypothermia after trying to punch through the ice as part of a rescue attempt.
Dozens of floral tributes and teddies have started to be laid for the three boys who died after falling into a frozen lake in Solihull.
A group of firefighters were among those to visit the scene near Babbs Mill lake on Monday 12th December.
Floral tributes, balloons, soft toys and lighted candles were left by mourners who gathered at the vigil held in Kingshurst on Monday night.
Birmingham City Football Club head coach John Eustace was one of the many who continued to pay tribute on Tuesday. He laid flowers near the lakeside, on behalf of all those at the football club.
Mr Eustace, who was born in Solihull, laid a floral wreath of blue and white at the foot of a tree which has become the focal point of mourning near Babbs Mill Lake.
A vigil was held on the Saturday after the incident. Hundreds gathered to pay their respects. A minute silence was held, and candles were lit in memory of the boys.