Incident in Solihull

[YoSofi]

Comments on news reports are saying that five children/young teens have gone through ice into a lake and are in a critical condition.

Really hope that all involved make a full recovery

Some of us, who grew up on / around farms, got gruesome safety films, warning of the dangers of walking on crusted slurry pits, not to drink things in bottles found in barns, not to climb on equipment etc.

That's 'Apaches' it's on YouTube, along with other public information films.

Four children are in a critical condition after falling through the ice on a Solihull lake. They fell into the water and suffered cardiac arrest at Babbs Mill Park on Sunday afternoon. West Midlands Police did not confirm how many were involved - or if any were still missing - but initial reports suggested up to six children were on the lake. Teams continued searching the water overnight.

However, the fire service said last night that given the temperature, the age of the children, and the time they would have been in the water it was "no longer a search and rescue operation".

One witness told Sky News he'd seen firefighters smashing the ice and a number of people in distress, including three receiving medical attention.

Teams on inflatable dinghies were later seen using torches to search the water.Emergency services said they entered the water and rescued the four children, before continuing to look for any others. "The children were brought out of the water where they received immediate life-support care from firefighters and our ambulance colleagues," said Richard Stanton, the fire service's area commander.

Thoughts and prayers to all involved.

I've seen a few on YouTube. They probably wouldn't dare show them to 8 year olds, now.

Only a few miles from me, I know the area well.

The BBC is referring to the ongoing search as a precaution

www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-63941050

This is just awful, my heart breaks for the families involved

This might be a stupid question, but if you see someone go through the ice and call 999, which service do you ask for? I think fire but I’m not sure!

BBC

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.

....

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".

"The search continued throughout the night yesterday and this morning there will be specialist police diving teams that will be in the water, continuing to search as a precaution," he said.

I'd ask for the fire brigade.

I would ask for fire and then ambulance.

Just dial 999 - the operator will ask you what service you require and if you tell them they will know which appropriate service to put you through to.

I’d say the same, they’ll have equipment for breathing and be more equipped for extreme temperatures. Although in the heat of the moment I probably wouldn’t think so logically.

Although don’t all calls go through to the same call centre anyway (I’m basing my knowledge on tv shows so may not be entirely correct)? So even if you’d asked for the wrong one, they’d be able to send the correct one anyway.

The police will give out minimal information until they have a conclusion. If they are still searching it means someone is missing. A terrible tragedy at any time of year but so close to Christmas just makes it feel even more awful
Praying for the rescued children 🙏

I just hope all the name callers have sat down with their own children and explained why playing on a frozen lake in this country is something that should never be done.

I know I told my kids this morning just in case I hadn’t mentioned it previously and we live no where near any large lakes or ponds. I explained why the ice isn’t thick enough to support them etc.

Fingers crossed the kids pull through 😥

@MabelMoo23 it doesn't say anything other than that the normal procedure was followed.

You are right. People post about being livid with teachers for a lot less. Nowadays schools would need to seek permission from parents before showing such films otherwise there'd be parents kicking up hell at the school and appearing in the local rag saying their child had been traumatised.

We used to get short public information films after tv programmes warning us of this and other dangers when I was a kid.

They should start doing those again imo.

Three of the boys have died. Ages 8, 10 and 11.

As I mentioned before, DH and I showed our DC the old Public Information Films, they were pretty much unmoved. I'm not sure if the impact is the same now with all the advances in CGI etc. Toy story 3 and the furnace was probably worse.

Boy aged six in critical condition

electric where are you getting this from? Please God this cannot be true 😢

There was a thread last week about a year 6 teacher who (stupidly) tried to frame a persuasive writing task by telling the children their end of term performance had been cancelled and they needed to write to the headteacher persuading them to change their mind. They sent a message home asking parents to play along. It was very poor judgement and I'm sure warranted a complaint but the thread was insane - people insisting they would call for (and get?!) the teacher's immediate dismissal etc etc.

@Quadrangle completely agree. Schools have a difficult enough job as it is. Basic safety comes down to parents, especially as children mature at different rates and one child might be receptive to dangers and able to cope with greater independence than another child of the same age.

I do think one very important part of a parent's role is to emphasise the issue of peer pressure. It's so hard if a group of friends are allowed to do something/go somewhere/ have more independence and as a parent you have reservations about whether your own child can cope with it, but once your kids are school age, this is what a lot of parenting is about. Treading that difficult line between being over protective, but keeping them safe

Oh I’ve just seen 😢 that is utterly devastating. Those poor children, their poor families.

Sky news now