A six-year-old boy who fell through the ice into a lake in Solihull is fighting for his life in hospital, as emergency services continue searching the waters after the tragedy that claimed the lives of three children.
The community of Kingshurst was still reeling in shock after three boys, 11, 10 and eight, died after falling through ice into the lake on Sunday.
As a steady stream of residents came to lay flowers and cards at Babbs Mill lake in tribute on Tuesday, many were forced to turn away in tears.
One girl cried as she left a note to her friend, one of the victims. “I will come here to visit all the time, I will never forget about you,” it read. “I would do anything to spend one last day with you.”
On Tuesday, specialist divers could be seen in the distance searching the lake to check after initial reports that up to six people may have been involved, although police have confirmed no other children have been reported missing.
In a statement on Tuesday morning, West Midlands police said: “Our searches at Babbs Mill lake in Kingshurst will continue today. The six-year-old boy remains in hospital in a critical condition. We will release further updates as soon as we are able.”
Councillor Ken Meeson, the mayor of Solihull, was one of those who had come to lay a wreath of flowers: “It’s a complete tragedy, and the more you read about it, it seems there were some very brave people who did their best,” he said.
“The loss of a child at any time is awful, but in these circumstances and so close to Christmas it’s a real tragedy. There will be empty seats at tables at Christmas, it’s a dreadful time.”
Many people at the scene commented on how the local community had rallied together to support each other, and the emergency services who faced a third day searching the lake in freezing conditions.
“The majority of people around here have got little kids themselves so they’re putting themselves in that situation, and thinking what they would feel,” said Michelle Tranter, a mother of four boys who lives next to the lake.
“My kids come to the lake every summer, they either go paddling or they fish. I’ve been coming here since I was a kid. But I don’t think people will ever look at the lake the same way,” she said.
“Some people are saying they should have known better and shouldn’t have gone on the ice, but kids don’t sense danger. I’ve got four boys myself, all under 11, they’re so curious.”
She brought some yellow and blue balloons to add to the growing tribute, which was filled with candles, soft toys and notes, many of them written by children.
One six-year-old had written: “I am so sad that you have gone to heaven.”
Another note read: “As someone that grew up in Kingshurst as a child myself, I’m sure the community will pull together and unite in their grief.”
Mother and daughter Jo and Jasmine Davies travelled from nearby Castle Bromwich to lay flowers, and offer hot drinks to the police officers standing by the lake.
“I grew up here and still have family here. I’ve always wanted to move back here because I love the lake and walking the dog around here,” she said. “But I don’t think it’s going to be like that any more. It’s horrible what happened.”
Like many, they praised the emergency services for their response, and particularly the actions of the officer who was treated for hypothermia after jumping into the water and punching through the ice in a bid to reach the boys.
“We think the policeman that went into the water to try to save them should receive some sort of award, he really should,” she added. “He didn’t think of himself. But it’s so heartbreaking.”
Emergency services were called to the scene at 2.36pm on Sunday, where it was reported four children had been playing on the ice and had fallen through into the lake.
Members of the public and police officers initially went into the water to try to get the children out, before they were reached by specialist water rescue-trained firefighters, who pulled them to safety.
All the children were in cardiac arrest and given immediate life support by ambulance and fire service personnel before being rushed to two Birmingham hospitals, where they all arrived in critical condition.
Families affected by the tragedy were “absolutely devastated”, Harris said.
He added: “We’re abiding by their requests at the moment as to how much information that the families want us to make available to the media so we’re doing everything we possibly can to support them.”
