People were playing on frozen Solihull lake before falling through, say fire service
A search and rescue operation is under way after a number of people people - believed by police to be in critical condition - were pulled from a lake in Solihull amid freezing temperatures.
West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to Babbs Mill Park in Kingshurst at 2.36pm along with West Midlands Ambulance Service and West Midlands Police. The fire service said reports from the scene and videos on social media indicate that people had been playing on the ice and had fallen through.
It added that specialist water rescue teams have carried out rescues and casualties received medical support at the scene before being taken to nearby hospitals.
The incident is still a search and rescue operation, the fire service said, with photos from the scene showing search teams on a boat on the lake shining torches into the water.
In a statement, the fire service said: "We would ask people to allow emergency services at the scene to go about their work in a safe and effective way."
"We will release further details when appropriate with our fellow blue-light partners."
It comes as freezing temperatures have been recorded across parts of the West Midlands and other regions in the UK.
Emergency services remain at Babbs Mill Park, which is located on Fortbridge Road in the Kingshurst area.
Several police cars, ambulances and fire crews are parked all the way down Fordbridge Road and onto the Stonebridge Crescent estate.
In total more than two dozen firefighters, paramedics and police officers are at the scene.
Temperatures are forecast to plummet and become very cold this evening after a chilly day.
According to the Met Office, the minimum temperature predicted is -7C for this evening and tonight.
Babbs Mill Park is a local nature reserve with a lake, river, wildflower grasslands and woodlands.
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