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Babbs Mill Lake: Hero schoolboy, 10, ‘ran into frozen Solihull lake to save strangers’ before he died alongside 2 boys
THE family of a hero schoolboy has told how he ran into a frozen Solihull lake to try save a group of boys before tragically dying.
Jack Johnson, 10, and two other boys - aged eight and 11 - lost their lives after getting into trouble in the freezing water on Sunday.
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A fourth victim, aged just six, is fighting for life in hospital after the tragedy at Babbs Mill Park in Solihull, West Midlands.
Jack's family and friends told how the youngster bravely rushed to the aid of other children after hearing their screams.
The boy's aunt Charlotte McIlmurray said he thought only of saving the kids - who he did not know - and had no concern for his own safety.
She posted on Facebook: “The 10-year-old boy is my nephew. He saw one go through the ice and he ran and tried to save them.
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“Our prayers and thoughts are with the other family. We are just broken over it.
“To find out he died trying to save three lads... That just sums him up. He was amazing.”
At a vigil to the boys yesterday evening, Charlotte told the that the "pain is unimaginable".
But she stressed that it is “a million times worse” for the other family.
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Another of Jack's relatives - who asked not to be named - said: "It has been the most devastating day in our family’s life."
It is believed the other boys - aged six, eight and 11 - are all from the same family.
Tommy Barnet, a friend of one of the victims, shared a similar story of the tragedy.
The 10-year-old told : "They were all playing on the ice, one got their legs stuck in the ice and then… his friends went to go and save him, but they all fell in.
"It's so sad, I am upset."
Dale Hewitt - a friend of the victims' family - said the boys' grandfather had also desperately rushed to the water to try to save his grandson.
Dale told the : "I know Jack's Dad who plays football with Trooper FC, a local team.
"It’s just heartbreaking for the family and this will have a massive impact on the whole community.
"I also know the grandfather. I heard that he ran down from where he lives and jumped in the lake to try to save them.
"What’s happened is so sad. I’ve got two kids aged six and 11 months and it has really affected me.
"I saw a video taken from one of the tower blocks, where you can hear these screams of ‘Help’ coming from the lake. It was unbearable."
Other witnesses reported hearing a young girl scream "my brother, my brother" as emergency services rushed to the scene.
Locals fear the kids were in the water for up to 15 minutes before being rescued.
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"I saw a video taken from one of the tower blocks where you can hear these screams of 'Help' coming from the lake. It was unbearable."
After being alerted by members of the public, cops dove into the lake in a desperate bid to pull the youngsters out the water before rushing them to hospital.
It was today confirmed that three of the boys aged eight, 10 and 11 had tragically died. The ten-year-old was later named as Jack.
reported a neighbour said Jack and the other children were "playing on top of the frozen lake when the ice cracked".
They said: "Jack and the other lads saw that it had been snowing from the flats and wanted to go and play.
"They rushed across to the park and were playing on top of the frozen lake, when the ice cracked.
"It's so tragic. Jack was a lovely lad. I know his dad.
"He is devastated. My heart goes out to him."
A floral tribute at the scene named another of the victims as Thomas.
The heartbreaking note read: "To my friend Thomas, thanks for being there for me.
"Thanks for lending me your jacket when I was cold. You were like a brother to me.
"I miss you so much. Love from Mason."
Another said: "To Thomas, rest in peace. Love from Earl."
A vigil was held on Monday evening for the "little kings who lost their lives".
Dozens could be seen gathered with candles in hand around the massive pile of floral tributes paying their respects.
Police have not confirmed whether the boys are related and said the families were "absolutely devastated".
Officers said searches are continuing at the lake amid fears more children could have entered the water as temperatures plunged overnight to -3C.
This will continue until they are "absolutely certain" no one else is in the water. Cops are not currently looking at a criminal investigation.
A statement said: "Three boys have tragically died after falling into the lake at Babbs Mill Park in Solihull on Sunday afternoon (11 December).
"The boys, aged 11, 10 and 8 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 6, remains in a critical condition in hospital.
"Searches of the lake are continuing as we seek to establish exactly what happened and if anyone else fell into the water."
Heroic police officers and members of the public jumped waist-deep into the freezing water to rescue the kids after they went into cardiac arrest.
One policeman who attempted to punch through the ice suffered mild hypothermia but has been released from hospital.
The children were playing on the ice covering the water when they fell in, it is understood.
A resident told today how she heard the children screaming moments after the horror unfolded.
She said: “I'm feeling numb. It's just too close to home and absolutely heartbreaking.
“I heard the sound of children screaming and I knew it was bad. That sound will go with me to my grave.
“There was pure panic and fear. I just heard such a commotion and then the most emergency services I've ever seen in my life.”
Distraught locals also told how bystanders had yelled it wasn't "safe" to go on the lake, which had frozen over in the cold weather.
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Witnesses said the ice cracked beneath two of the kids and the others got into trouble when they rushed over to help.
Sophie, 23, said: "I got here with my friends at 2.45pm. There were a group of youngsters playing near the lake which was completely iced over.
"Two of them had gone onto the lake and people were shouting at them that it wasn't safe.
"Then the ice cracked and the leg of one of the boys went in. The other three on the bank then went in to help and soon they were all in trouble."
Specialist divers were drafted in to help with the search after firefighters received a report of six children in the water.
Officials feared they were no longer alive due to their age, the temperature of the water and the length of time spent in it.
Richard Stanton, West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service area commander, described the deaths as a "tragedy beyond words".
The commander also issued a warning to stay away from open water and ice as temperatures continue to plummet across the country.
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He said: "We know the weather forecast for the next few days is expected to be bitterly cold.
"Under no circumstances venture onto ice, regardless of how thick or safe you think this ice to be."
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