Three children have died after falling into Solihull lake in Babbs Mill Park

Four children were pulled from the water and were given immediate life support having suffered cardiac arrests Credit: PA Images

Three children have died and one remains in hospital in a critical condition after falling into a frozen lake in Babbs Mill Park in Solihull.

Three boys aged 11, 10 and eight have died after being pulled from the icy lake, West Midlands Police confirmed earlier today.

Witnesses reported seeing "six children falling into a frozen lake" at Kingfisher Country Park in Kingshurst at around 2:40pm on Sunday.

Four children were pulled from the water and were given immediate life support having suffered cardiac arrests.

A fourth boy, age six, remains in a critical condition at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Police have had no contact from anyone suggesting there are others missing 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.”

Mapped: Babbs Mill Lake incident where three young boys have died after falling into freezing water

In a statement on Monday, West Midlands Police said: "Three boys have tragically died after falling into the lake at Babbs Mill Park in Solihull yesterday afternoon (11 December). 

"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."

Specialist water rescue teams from West Midlands Fire Service are searching the lake on Monday.

The efforts are now referred to as a recovery operation. 

Flowers have been laid near to Babbs Mill Lake in Solihull. Credit: PA

Police said: "We've been working alongside colleagues from the fire and ambulance services as we do all we can to support those involved.

"Searches of the lake are continuing as we seek to establish exactly what happened and if anyone else fell into the water.

"We understand how distressing this is for the families and the wider community. We would ask people to not speculate or share any video footage at this stage."

Reports from the scene and social media videos indicate they were playing on the ice and fell through, the fire service said.

Police officers were seen wading chest deep in the lake this morning, though they have not yet confirmed that anyone else is missing

Temperatures are thought to have plunged to 1C (34F) in the area at the time of the incident, falling to -3C (26F) overnight.

People playing on frozen Solihull lake before falling through, say fire service
Search continues as two still missing after four children pulled from lake

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