‘MISS YOU SO MUCH’
Heartbreaking note pal left as tribute for Solihull lake victim says ‘thanks for lending me your jacket when I was cold’
A HEARTBREAKING note from a pal left at the scene of the Solihull lake deaths reads "thanks for lending me your jacket when I was cold".
Tributes have poured in after three boys lost their lives on Sunday.
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Jack Johnson, 10, and two other boys - aged eight and 11 - tragically passed away at Babbs Mill Park in Solihull.
A floral tribute at the scene named another one of the victims as Thomas.
The emotional 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.
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"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 as flowers surrounded their feet.
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John Eustace, who is the head coach of local football team Birmingham City, also lay flowers today.
It is understood the youngsters got into trouble after playing on the ice.
They sadly could not be saved after falling into the freezing water.
A fourth victim, aged just six, is fighting for life in hospital after the tragedy.
It is believed the boys - aged six, eight and 11 who have not been formally identified yet - are all from the same family.
However police are yet to confirm this.
Jack's family and friends previously told how the boy bravely rushed to help 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.
“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.”
'THEY ALL FELL IN'
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."
A brave 13-year-old girl also rain to their aid, trying to save them with tree branches.
Oliwia Szewc told ITV: "I was just trying my best to think of different ways to at least help them or do anything for them to float on the surface of the water so they wouldn't drown."
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.
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.
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.
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“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.”
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