A hero police officer suffered hypothermia after trying to punch through the ice in a desperate effort to save children who had plunged into a freezing lake in Solihull.
Today Superintendent Richard Harris, of West Midlands Police, said officers had rushed into the icy water "without regard for their own wellbeing" as the tragedy unfolded.
Members of the public joined police, fire and ambulance staff who bravely waded into Babbs Mill Lake as they pulled four children out.
Tragically three boys - aged eight, 10 and 11 - died after falling through the ice yesterday, and a six-year-old boy is fighting for his life.
Police were initially told six children were in the water, and a search is ongoing to find there is anyone still in the lake, but no reports have been received of missing people.
Mr Harris said one officer was treated for hypothermia as a result of the rescue attempt.
He told reporters: "Police officers did go into into the water.
"They were joined by other members of the other emergency services. Some of the officers went in waist-deep.
"One of my officers was trying to punch through the ice to actually rescue the children themselves. That officer as a result of that had some mild hypothermia yesterday. I'm pleased to say that he's now been released from hospital and he's absolutely fine."
He said that police rushed into the water, even though they weren't wearing specialist equipment.
"They were in trousers and shoes like I am today," Mr Harris revealed.
He said searches would continue until officers can be certain that no one else remains under the water.
Mr Harris said: "Yesterday evening we had a number of different reports suggesting numbers of young people that may have been in the lake.
"These reports don't match the children that were rescued from the lake yesterday.
"We have to be 100% certain that there's no one else in the water at this time.
""It's important to stress though that that we've had no contact from anybody suggesting that there's anybody else missing, but until we're 100% sure we'll be continuing searches through today."
Families affected by the tragedy in Solihull are "absolutely devastated", the police chief said.
He stated: "Also this time of year, it's on the run-up to Christmas, so close to the event itself, also adds to that tragedy.
"But as you can imagine the families are absolutely devastated, which is why we're doing our very best to support the families.
"And obviously we're abiding by their requests at the moment as to how much information that the families want us to to make available to the media so we're doing everything we possibly can to support them."
