A BBC news presenter was visibly upset as she reported the breaking news that here children have died after falling through the ice at a frozen lake in the West Midlands.
Joanna Gosling had just been told that three children aged eight, 10, and 11 had died after falling into the water. Her voice broke as she reported: "I have some really sad news to bring you, we are hearing three boys - aged 10, 11 and eight - have died after being pulled from an icy lake in Solihull," she said. "I am so sorry..."
She then choked up, reports BirminghamLive, adding: "This is terrible news, obviously. Three boys have died and there were reports six people were on the ice, and emergency services are looking at the lake having got those reports." She said: "Very sadly, we have heard three of those boys have died." Joanna tried to compose herself, saying the news was "very shocking" and "very sad".
Police say a fourth child, aged six, remains critically ill in hospital. Searches continue at the lake amid reports up to six children could have entered the water. Police have had no contact from anyone suggesting there are others missing after an incident at a lake at Babbs Mill Park in Solihull but will keep searching on Monday to make “100% certain”.
Superintendent Richard Harris, of West Midlands Police, told reporters: “We have to be 100% certain that there is no one else possibly in the water at this time.
“It’s important to stress though that we’ve had no contact from anybody suggesting that there’s anybody else missing but until we’re 100% certain we will be carrying on searches throughout the course of today.”
West Midlands Fire Service area commander Richard Stanton said the deaths of three boys who fell into a frozen lake was a “stark reminder” of the dangers of open water.
He told a press conference at the scene at Babbs Mill Park in Solihull: “Yesterday’s incident is a stark reminder to us all of the dangers of open water, especially during the winter months.
“Frozen lakes, ponds, canals and reservoirs can look picturesque but they can be lethal and there are no greater warnings of this than yesterday’s tragic events.
“We would ask parents and carers to remind their children of the dangers of ice and why they must keep off it. Please help us to avoid this from happening again.”
