Two children under 12 are feared dead and four of their friends are in a critical condition today after falling through ice into the depths of a frozen pond yesterday.
Walkers in Babbs Mill Park in Kingshurst, Solihull, were heard screaming at the group ‘it’s not safe’ and to get off the ice before it gave way at just after 2.30pm on Sunday.
Four children were rushed to hospital in a critical condition after they were pulled from the lake in a state of cardiac arrest. Local reports last night said one child had died in hospital, but police refused to confirm this.
Last night specialist police divers were seen entering the water under torchlight as the huge search operation continued overnight.
But fire crews have said it is now a ‘recovery rather than rescue’, as hope for the two missing children fades.
Police officers seen on Monday morning as emergency services continue with their search of the lake after initial reports suggested up to six children had been involved
Police officers at the scene in Babbs Mill Park in Kingshurst, Solihull on Monday morning
Emergency services continue to search the lake after reports suggested up to six children may have been on the lake when the ice fell through
Two children – said to be aged under 12 – had been playing on the ice when it cracked beneath them. This prompted their friends to run onto the lake and try and help them only to get into trouble themselves, witnesses said.
At a press conference on Sunday night emergency services confirmed four children were fighting for their lives in hospital and search efforts were continuing amid reports two further children were involved.
The Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that searches would continue overnight, but added that any ongoing activity would no longer be classed as a rescue operation.
When asked about local reports that one child had died, West Midlands Ambulance Service tactical commander Cameron McVittie said there would be ‘no clinical updates’ issued on any of the children at this time.
Eyewitnesses described seeing responders ‘smashing through’ the ice on the lake’s surface as those first on the scene swam out into the water to rescue the nearest child.
Emergency workers took to the lake on Sunday evening in an effort to find two children, believed to be under the age of 12, who are missing and feared dead
Emergency services were seen carrying equipment to and from the lake as they combat freezing temperatures with the operation said to be at the recovery stage, rather than rescue, meaning the children are feared dead
They added all four children were being ‘given CPR’ on the way into waiting ambulances.
Police officers and fellow emergency responders rushed into the lake and were subsequently able to pull four children from its surface.
West Midlands Ambulance Service tactical commander Cameron McVittie said all four were ‘actively treated’ at the scene by specialist teams and were in a state of cardiac arrest when they exited the lake.
They were rushed to hospital and were in a critical condition on arrival, having been given ‘advanced life support’ on the journey.
Two of the children were taken to Birmingham Children’s Hospital while the other two were taken to Birmingham Heartlands Hospital. No further updates on their condition were given.
A search diver is seen rising from the water of the Babbs Mill Lake. Nottinghamshire Police’s Underwater and Specialist Search Unit has been called to help the operation
A drone can be seen hovering above rescuers to shine a light for their search efforts
Police divers from the the Underwater and Specialist Search Unit have been seen entering the water at Babbs Mill Lake
A huge number of paramedics, police officers and firefighters helped with efforts as boats entered and exited the lake
Emergency services were deployed after people reportedly fell through the frozen lake’s service
Emergency crews at Babbs Mill Lake, Kingshurst, Solihull, West Midlands
Huge numbers of emergency service vehicles and workers remained at the scene on Sunday evening
Diving teams were pictured carrying oxygen tanks to search underneath the water
One police officer was also taken to hospital with a mild case of hypothermia, but is expected to make a full recovery.
Richard Stanton, West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service area commander, said: ‘When the fire service arrived at the scene, we were made aware there were up to six people in the water.
‘After rescuing the four children, we have continued the search and rescue operation to confirm whether there were any more in the water.’
He added: ‘The specialist medical advice we have been given on the scene, given the temperature of the water, given the age of those who entered the water and the amount of time they have been in there, this would no longer be a search and rescue operation.’
Area Commander Stanton said that when the fire service arrived several police officers and members of the public were in the water looking for the children.
Sophie, 23, a mental health support worker at the scene on Sunday evening, said: ‘I got here with my friends at 2.45pm. There were a group of youngsters playing near the lake which was completely iced over.
‘Two of them had gone onto the lake and people were shouting at them that it wasn’t safe.
‘Then the ice cracked and the leg of one of the boys went in. The other three on the bank then went in to help and soon they were all in trouble.’
She claimed that one of the boys, an eight-year-old, had since died but the emergency services refused to comment on those reports during a press conference last night.
‘He’s the nephew of a friend of mine,’ she said. ‘He had been unresponsive for two hours and they have confirmed now that he has passed away.’
Describing the rescue efforts, Sophie said she saw four children being pulled from the icy water and transferred to waiting ambulances.
‘They stretchered them up the bank to the ambulances waiting. They were giving them CPR as they were moving.’
Rescue teams are using specialist equipment at the scene to safely search the lake into the night
Among the emergency workers to respond were specialist water teams from the Fire and Rescue service
Emergency services swarmed to a Solihull beauty spot amid a major incident on Sunday
There were at least 10 fire engines and 10 police cars parked on one street alone, the nearest street to the Lake.
Some local people continued to watch the operation into Sunday evening, numb at the realization that such an incident had happened on their doorstep.
Ellie Harvey, 29, a mother of two who works in one of three nearby primary schools as a lunchtime assistant, said: ‘I saw all the blue flashing lights and knew something awful had happened.
‘I understand they are all year five and year six primary school children.
‘I have heard there is also one of the police officers, one of the first responders, has also been taken to hospital in a bad way.
‘I think they were a group of friends. The lake was ice and it is very enticing for children.
‘I have a boy the same sort of age but luckily he doesn’t like playing out in the cold. There was ice on the lake but it wasn’t thick.
‘In some places the birds were still swimming and in others they were standing on ice.’
Stanley Busumani, 30, an Amazon worker who lives nearby, said: ‘Around 2.30pm there were suddenly a load of ambulances police and fire engines arriving all at once.
‘I have heard it is five kids. I have seen people sobbing down their phones and a lot of very upset people.
‘I have a five year old. This is a terrible thing to happen.’