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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Susie Beever

Police beg children to stop playing on 'dangerous' frozen lakes after Solihull tragedy

"Irresponsible" young Brits are still venturing out onto frozen lakes and ponds despite Sunday's tragedy in Solihull, police and rescue services have warned.

Emergency services have been called to several incidents involving young people risking their lives on the ice in recent days, ignoring urgent warnings not to do so.

It comes less than 48 hours after three boys were killed and a fourth remains in a critical condition after falling through ice at Babbs Mill Park on Sunday.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a staggering 20 to 30 children playing on the ice at Hammonds Pond in Carlisle after school on Monday.

Emergency services up and down the country have warned parents to speak to their children about the dangers of playing on ice (Getty Images)

"Luckily none of them fell through into the water," they said.

"This is extremely dangerous and could be fatal, ensure your children are safe and educated on the risks."

Just a day earlier, the same service was called to reports of two boys plunging through ice at a nature reserve pond but were able to scramble to safety.

Crews rushed to Siddick Ponds in Workington, combing the lake to find one of the boys had fallen but managed to pull himself free.

Rick Ogden, Assistant Chief Fire Officer spoke of his relief after finding no one was seriously hurt.

"With temperatures set to remain very cold, struggling to get above freezing over the coming days, many ponds and other stretches of water are at risk of freezing," the fire chief said.

People looking at a frozen lake in Richmond Park, London. Emergency services have warned people not to go out onto the ice after three boys died in Solihull (PA)

"Whilst they may look solid from the surface and tempting to step on, they can be extremely dangerous and very unlikely to hold your weight."

The policing team for London's royal parks said on Tuesday that five people had walked on frozen water in Kensington Gardens the day before, describing their actions as "unlawful, irresponsible and dangerous".

"All were reported under the Royal Parks Regulations and directed to leave the Park," they said.

Meanwhile, officers in Cheshire were called to a park in Widnes where witnesses reported seeing children playing on a frozen lake.

"This afternoon we’ve had reports of children playing on the lake at Victoria Park, Widnes," the force wrote on Facebook on Monday afternoon.

"Officers are patrolling the area and we’re urging parents to speak to their children about the dangers, particularly following the tragic deaths near Solihull."

(PA)

The warning was echoed by rescue services in South Yorkshire, who said they had also attended an incident on Monday afternoon involving young people playing on a frozen lake.

“Please speak to the youngsters in your life about the dangers of doing this," South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said. "As we’ve seen in the #SolihullLakeTragedy the consequences can be tragic.”

A West Midlands Police officer reportedly tried to punch through the ice as they desperately tried to save the four boys who fell into the lake on Sunday.

Police search Babbs Mill Park near Solihull in Birmingham where four children were pulled from an icy lake (Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)

One of the boys was pulled out and taken to hospital with hypothermia, but tragically three others - one of whom has since been named locally as Jack Johnson - were pulled out and pronounced dead.

Rick added: “Parents, please speak to your children to warn them of the potential consequences if someone goes through into the frozen water.

"Please also keep pets on leads when near frozen water and don’t throw objects onto the ice for them to retrieve.

“If you see anyone in difficultly please call 999 immediately. Reassure them but don’t attempt to rescue them as you could become the next casualty.”

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