Derbyshire Fire and Rescue says it has been made aware of young people playing on ice at a lake near Ilkeston less than a week since four boys died in Solihull after being recovered from water. West Midlands Police says the four boys, aged 11, 10, eight and six, all died following the incident at Babbs Mill Park on Sunday, December 11.
Three of them died in hospital on the Sunday whilst the youngest, Samuel Butler, died in hospital on Wednesday. Despite warnings being issued in the wake of the tragedy, young people were playing on a frozen lake on Thursday (December 15).
The young people were seen at the Kirk Hallam Lake. It follows a similar incident on a frozen pond at the Shirebrook Leisure Centre earlier in the week.
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A spokesperson for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue said: "We've been made aware of young people playing on ice at Kirk Hallam Lake in Ilkeston and are also aware of a similar incident at a frozen pond at Shirebrook Leisure Centre. We're working hard with the Derbyshire Water Safety Partnership to raise awareness of the dangers of this following the tragic incident in Solihull.
"Earlier this week, we reached out to all schools in Derbyshire to share our safety message and would once again like to urge people to keep off and away from areas of frozen water. Venturing on to frozen water is extremely dangerous. It may look safe and feel solid around the edge of a frozen reservoir, pond or lake - but it rarely is.
"As you venture out, the ice becomes thinner making the chance of falling through into the water highly likely." The fire and rescue service added that going on to frozen water can lead to cold water shock, with symptoms including a rise in blood pressure and muscle cramps.
If people do find themselves in water, the fire and rescue service advises people to lay on their back and float whilst calling for help. Dog walkers, walkers and runners are also urged to be wary of slippery paths close to frozen water.
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