Solihull ice tragedy: 'No suggestion' more children are missing following deaths of eight, 10 and 11 year-olds

One child remains in a critical condition in a hospital, while three others have died.
One child remains in a critical condition in a hospital, while three others have died.
Jacob King
Ben Chapman

By Ben Chapman


Published: 12/12/2022

- 12:56

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 10:27

Three children have died after being pulled from an icy lake in Solihull

West Midlands Police have stated there is “no suggestion” any other children fell into an icy lake in Solihull after three children died in an incident.

A fourth boy, aged six, remains in a critical condition in hospital.


The boys were all taken to hospital after suffering cardiac arrest having fallen through ice at Babbs Mill Park, in Kinghurst, on Sunday.

Despite early signs indicating more children may have fallen through the ice, the police now believe there is no suggestion of this, but search efforts are continuing nonetheless.

West Midlands Police stated they are continuing to search the lake to be “100% certain that there is no one else in the water.

“It’s important to stress that we’ve had no contact with anybody to suggest anyone else is missing.”

Emergency services were first called to Babbs Mill Park in the Kingshurst area of Solihull, West Midlands, near Birmingham at 2.36pm on Sunday, where it was reported four children had been playing on the ice and fallen through into the lake.

Members of the public have been paying tribute following the tragic incident.
Members of the public have been paying tribute following the tragic incident.
Jacob King

Members of the public and police officers initially went into the chilly waters to try to get the youngsters out, before the children were reached by specialist water rescue-trained firefighters who got the group to safety.

Those pulled from the water were given immediate life support by ambulance and fire service personnel before being rushed to two Birmingham hospitals; Birmingham Children’s and Heartlands, where they all arrived in critical condition.

In an update on Monday morning, West Midlands Police said: “Three boys have tragically died after falling into the lake at Babbs Mill Park in Solihull yesterday afternoon.

“The boys, aged 11, 10 and eight, 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 six, remains in a critical condition in hospital.”

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