Four boys died after falling through frozen lake in ‘terrible accident’
Four boys who fell through the ice while playing on a frozen lake died after drowning in a ‘terrible accident’, a coroner has ruled.
Finlay Butler, eight, and his younger brother Samuel, six, perished alongside their cousin Thomas Stewart, 11, and another boy, Jack Johnson, 10.
An inquest heard all four fell into the freezing water as they played on the ice at Babbs Mill Park, in Kingshurst, Solihull, on December 11 last year.
Birmingham Coroners Court was told Finlay plunged through the ice first before Thomas, Samuel and Jack fell in when they desperately tried to help him.
Witnesses described seeing the boys in the water screaming for help before they went under the surface during sub-zero temperatures.
Detective Inspector James Edmonds from West Midlands Police told the inquest: ‘The location is known as Babbs Mill Lake.
‘It’s a community used facility, used by lots of people. It’s a fairly large lake.
‘This tragic incident involves a group of two children, the two groups didn’t know one another. They came across each other.’
He said Jack and his friends had been by the skate park before heading to the lake to skim stones.
Shortly after walking out onto the ice, he said Tom, Fin and Sam arrived and similarly stepped onto the frozen lake.
Mr Edmonds went on: ‘They interact like children do. It’s apparent that Finlay was the first to fall in.
‘When they were found they were found toward the bottom of the lake. In comparison to the water’s edge, it was some distance out. Approximately 12 metres out.
‘Fin falling through the lake prompted Tom to go out to the lake and assist. Tom then fell through the ice. Jack and Sam tried to save the other boys.’
The detective described how officers first arrived on the scene at 2.43pm after receiving multiple 999 calls, the first coming in at 2.34pm.
He described how they bravely ignored medical advice not to enter the water and formed a human chain, with some wading in up to their chins, and used their bare hands to smash through the ice.
Mr Edmonds said ‘The air temperature that day was five degrees, so the water would have been much colder than that.
‘Despite their best efforts, they were simply unable to reach the area. The physical impact on the officers was quite significant in terms of their body temperature.’
‘The impacts of the water temperature would have significantly contributed to the boys being unable to stay afloat.
‘It’s a terrible tragedy, my heart and condolences goes out to the families.’
Recording a conclusion the boys accidentally died from drowning, Coroner Louise Hunt described the four deaths as a ‘devastating tragedy’.
Addressing the boys’ families, she added: ‘All of these boys’ deaths are a devastating tragedy for you all.
‘I hope today has helped you have a better understanding of everything that has happened.’
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