Two schoolgirls spotted playing on frozen lake in Wimbledon just hours after three boys die in Solihull ice tragedy | The Sun
TWO schoolgirls were spotted playing on a frozen pond just hours after three boys tragically lost their lives falling through ice in Solihull.
The pair were seen absent-mindedly walking on the icy lake this morning in Wimbledon Common in London.
The two schoolgirls were seemingly unaware they were risking their lives just hours after three children died after falling into freezing waters doing the same thing yesterday afternoon.
At a press conference following the tragedy, West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service area commander Richard Stanton issued an urgent warning to stay off frozen bodies of water.
He said: "We know the weather forecast for the next few days is expected to be bitterly cold.
"Under no circumstances venture onto ice, regardless of how thick or safe you think this ice to be."
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It comes after emergency services rushed to the scene yesterday afternoon following reports that a group of children had fallen through an icy lake at Babbs Mill Park in Solihull, West Midlands.
A desperate rescue mission was launched to save the children, as specialist divers were brought into assist the search.
Four of the children were rushed to hospital after being pulled from the icy water as they suffered cardiac arrest.
Tragically, police confirmed this morning that three of the boys had died, aged just eight, 10 and 11.
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A six-year-old boy remains in a critical condition in hospital.
Authorities said searches of the lake are continuing amid fears more children may have entered the water as temperatures plunged overnight to -3C.
A statement said: "Three boys have tragically died after falling into the lake at Babbs Mill Park in Solihull yesterday afternoon (11 December).
"The boys, aged 11, 10 and 8 were rushed to hospital after being pulled from the water.
"Sadly, they could not be revived and our thoughts are with their family and friends at this deeply devastating time.
"We’ll have specialist officers offering them as much support as we can.
"A fourth boy, aged 6, remains in a critical condition in hospital.
"Searches of the lake are continuing as we seek to establish exactly what happened and if anyone else fell into the water."
'HEARTBREAKING'
A horrified resident told today how she heard the children screaming moments after the tragedy unfolded.
She said: “I'm feeling numb. It's just too close to home and absolutely heartbreaking.
“I heard the sound of children screaming and I knew it was bad. That sound will go with me to my grave.
“There was pure panic and fear. I just heard such a commotion and then the most emergency services I've ever seen in my life.”
Distraught locals also told how bystanders had yelled it wasn't "safe" to go on the lake, which had frozen over in the cold weather.
Witnesses said the ice cracked beneath two of the kids and the others got into trouble when they rushed over to help.
Sophie, 23, 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.
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"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."
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