Police in England's West Midlands say three of four children who died after falling into an ice-covered lake earlier this week were from the same family.
Police said brothers Finlay Butler, eight, and Samuel Butler, six, along with their cousin Thomas Stewart, 10, died after being pulled from Babbs Mill Lake in Solihull, near Birmingham, on Sunday afternoon.
Another boy, 10-year-old Jack Johnson, also died in the tragedy.
The boys fell through ice covering the lake as snow and ice blanketed much of the UK on Sunday.
Emergency workers, including a police officer who tried to punch through the ice to get to the children, pulled them from the water and rushed them to the hospital in the West Midlands, about 160 kilometres north of London.
Three of the boys could not be revived on Sunday after suffering cardiac arrest.
And Samuel died on Wednesday after spending several days in hospital in a critical condition.
West Midlands Police released a statement from the parents of Thomas, Finlay and Samuel, thanking emergency responders for their efforts and asking media for privacy as they began to grieve.
"As a family we are devastated at the loss of our beautiful boys Tom, Fin and Sam in such tragic circumstances," the statement read.
Thomas's older brother was also quoted in the police statement, writing: "Thomas was such a lively little soul, he had a big heart for such a young kid and he was so beautiful."
"He loved being outside playing with his mates."
Police had continued to search the lake after reports other children might have fallen in, but said on Wednesday those searches were now completed.
Superintendent Rich Harris said the tragedy was "beyond words" and the grief for family and friends "unimaginable".
"The support from the community has been overwhelming, not just for the bereaved families, but also for the emergency services, for which we are extremely grateful," he said.
ABC/wires
