Solihull: Four children critical as search of icy lake continues

A search is continuing after four children were rescued from an icy lake near Solihull.

The children were in cardiac arrest when they were helped from the water. It is thought they had been playing on ice in Babbs Mill Park, Kingshurst.

Search operations are continuing to determine if there was anyone else in the water. Emergency crews were told six people had been seen on the ice.

Police have not confirmed they are looking for anyone else at this stage.

Emergency services were sent to the scene at about 14:30 GMT on Sunday.

On Monday, West Midlands Fire Service chief Richard Stanton said specialist police diving teams would be continuing to search as a precaution.

He added there was no update on the condition of the four children who were pulled from the water.

Mr Stanton said up to six people had potentially been in there and that teams had continued to extensively search "in very difficult conditions in very difficult temperatures".

St Anthony's Primary in Kingshurst, a few minutes walk away from the park, tweeted it would be shut on Monday, because of the incident.

BBC WM reporter Nish Chauhan was at the scene on Monday and said residents were arriving with hot drinks for the emergency workers.

"That gives you a true reflection of what the people are like round here," he said.

The park is a popular place year-round, he said, with basketball courts and grassland used by many dog walkers. There is also a children's play area and a skate park, both near the lake.

On Sunday, Kamren Whyte, from New Testament Church of God, in Kingshurst, handed out warm drinks to emergency service workers.

"If it was anybody going into the water it would have been a tragedy, but especially children," Mr Whyte said.

Ian Courts, leader of Solihull Council, and deputy leader Karen Grinsell visited the cordon at Babbs Mill lake on Monday with both praising the bravery of emergency service rescue teams.

Mr Courts said: "This is just about as bad as it gets... a dreadful situation.

Meriden MP Saqib Bhatti also visited the scene, praising emergency services for their heroic efforts to pull four children from the water.

"In these conditions not to worry about your own safety and just to go after those children is heroic," he said.

On Sunday, Supt Richard Harris, of West Midlands Police, said one officer had suffered "mild hypothermia" during the rescue operation, but was making a recovery after being taken to hospital as a precaution.

By the time firefighters arrived at the lake on Sunday afternoon, police officers and members of the public were involved in rescue attempts, he said.

Two children were taken to Heartlands Hospital in Solihull and another two taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Temperatures of 1C (34F) were reported in the area at the time. They plummeted to about -3C (26F) overnight.

The UK is expected to continue experiencing a cold spell - with snow, ice and freezing fog expected for days, according to forecasts.

"While frozen rivers and ponds can be fascinating, they can be dangerous and a hazard to life," the Met Office said.

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