Heroic schoolboy, 10, ‘died trying to save his friends’ after running into frozen lake to rescue the three lads who fell into the icy water his family reveal as they say: ‘That just sums him up… he was amazing’

• Jack Johnson, aged 10, was thought to be playing on the ice when it cracked 
• He was among four boys who fell through ice at 2.30pm on Sunday afternoon
• His aunt claims Jack went into the water to try and help children who had fallen 
• A family friend claims Jack’s grandfather rushed into the lake to try and save him
• Police today confirmed that three of them had died and a fourth remains critical

The family of a schoolboy who died at after the ice gave way at a frozen lake in Solihull say he heroically went into the water to try and rescue his friend who had fallen through.

Jack Johnson leapt into Babbs Mill Park lake on Sunday afternoon after hearing the screams of other children, his family have said.

The brave 10-year-old was one of four children pulled from the icy water after the frozen surface broke apart while some were playing on it.

Jack and three other boys aged six, eight, and 11, were taken to hospital in a critical condition after suffering cardiac arrests, but he and the two older boys could not be saved.

The six-year-old remains in a critical condition in hospital, police confirmed today at a press conference near the scene of the tragedy.

One of the boys who died after plunging into a frozen lake in Solihull was 10-year-old Jack Johnson (pictured with his father Kirk) who had been playing on the ice, MailOnline can reveal

Family of Jack Johnson (pictured here) say he jumped into the lake to try and rescue someone who had fallen through the ice

Jack (pictured here with his father Kirk) suffered a cardiac arrest after entering the water on Sunday

Jack (pictured) and three other boys aged six, eight, 10 and 11, were taken to hospital in a critical condition after suffering cardiac arrests having fallen through ice at Babbs Mill Park at 2.30pm yesterday

Residents and well-wishers gathered at Babbs Mill Park Lake on Monday night for a vigil for the boys

It has now been claimed by Jack’s aunt, Charlotte McIlmurray, that he had gone into the water to try and help another boy who had fallen in, the Sun reports. 

In a post on Facebook she wrote: ‘The 10-year-old boy is my nephew. He saw one go threw 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.’

A friend of the group told Sky News earlier that Jack and two other children went to help one of the boys after he got his legs stuck in the ice.

Tommy Barnet, 10, told the channel: ‘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.

‘When it was summer, we used to go in the woods and play hide and seek next to the lake. But I wasn’t here yesterday.’ 

Earlier it was claimed that Jack’s grandfather desperately ‘ran from his house’ and leapt into the icy water to try and save the boys after hearing screams.

Mourners light candles next to floral and written tributes to the three boys who tragically died in the incident in Babbs Mill Park on Sunday

Locals also gathered to give their well wishes for the fourth boy who remains in hospital in a critical condition

He was joined by other members of the public and police officers who jumped into the freezing water to try and save the boys, who had been playing on the frozen lake when the ice gave way at 2.30pm.

Dale Hewitt told the Telegraph: ‘It’s just heartbreaking for the family and this will have a massive impact on the whole community.

A neighbour told MailOnline that Jack and the other children were ‘playing on top of the frozen lake when the ice cracked.’ 

Photos show him smiling with his father and climbing a tree. 

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 Kirk. He is devastated. My heart goes out to him.’

Among the dozens of floral tributes left near the scene today were ones that named another of the victims as Thomas.

One read: ‘To my friend Thomas. Thanks for being there for me when I was sad. Thanks for lending me your jacket when I was cold.’ 

It added: ‘You were like a brother to me. I miss you so much.’ 

Another said: ‘To Thomas, rest in peace. Love from Earl.’ 

Earlier, a school paid tribute to one of the children who passed away. 

Dozens of mourners have been leaving floral tributes near the scene today. Earlier, a group of firefighters (above) wearing protective overalls placed their own floral tribute – bearing a white ribbon arranged as a flower – near Babbs Mill lake

Police officers are seen on the lake at Babbs Mill Park in Solihull today

Marcus Brain, the chairman of the board of governors at nearby St Anthony’s School, told Birmingham Live: ‘One of our children has passed away. 

‘I have spoken to the family but I’m doing the communication through the school.’

Although the school has been closed for normal lessons, he said it remains open if children want to come in. 

The governor added: ‘The staff are absolutely devastated. The lad was a lovely boy. Everybody is in bits. We’re all in shock, what’s happened is unbelievable.’

The boys who died did not all attend the same school, according to reports.  

At a press conference today, Superintendent Richard Harris, of West Midlands Police, appeared emotional as he told how an officer had to be treated for mild hypothermia after trying to punch through the ice to save the boys. 

‘One of my officers was trying to punch through the ice to rescue the children themselves,’ he said. 

‘That officer as a result of that had some mild hypothermia yesterday.’

The officers who initially arrived at the scene went into the lake in their ordinary uniforms rather than specialist equipment. 

Superintendent Harris said the officer who was treated for hypothermia is now ‘absolutely fine’ and has been released from hospital.  

He added that the families of the children who fell into the lake are ‘absolutely devastated’. 

The officer told reporters: ‘Also this time of year, it’s on the run-up to Christmas, so close to the event itself, also adds to that tragedy.

‘But as you can imagine the families are absolutely devastated, which is why we’re doing our very best to support the families.

‘And obviously we’re abiding by their requests at the moment as to how much information that the families want us to to make available to the media so we’re doing everything we possibly can to support them.’

Police today confirmed three boys had died after falling through ice at Babbs Mill Park in Solihull (which officers are seen searching today) while a fourth boy remains critical

The seven firefighters paused for a few moments of reflection before leaving the scene, having been applauded by several local people for their efforts to save the youngsters

Tearful residents near the scene of the shocking incident today, as police continue to search the lake

The public are yet to be told about the identities of the children who passed away. Above: Tearful locals at the scene

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street lays flowers near the scene. He left a card that read: ‘Such a tragedy. My heart goes out to the families who have lost their most precious gift. ‘May their young lives rest in peace and may Kingshurst come together to remember them’

Two women lay flowers this morning near to the scene in Babbs Mill Park in Kingshurst

More flowers are seen being laid near the scene of the incident on the lake at Babbs Mill Park

Members of the public also waded in to the lake during crews’ attempts to rescue the children.  

West Midlands Fire Service area commander Richard Stanton said the deaths of three boys who fell into the lake was a ‘stark reminder’ of the dangers of open water.

He said at the press conference: ‘Yesterday’s incident is a stark reminder to us all of the dangers of open water, especially during the winter months.

‘Frozen lakes, ponds, canals and reservoirs can look picturesque but they can be lethal and there are no greater warnings of this than yesterday’s tragic events.

‘We would ask parents and carers to remind their children of the dangers of ice and why they must keep off it. Please help us to avoid this from happening again.’ 

Searches of the lake are still continuing to establish whether anyone else fell into the water, after reports that as many as six children may have been involved. 

But police said that there has been no contact from anybody suggesting anyone else is missing. 

Superintendent Harris said officers want to be ‘100 per cent certain’ that no one else is in the lake before stopping their searches, which are continuing today. 

Dozens of mourners have been leaving floral tributes near the scene today. 

Earlier, a group of firefighters wearing protective overalls placed their own floral tribute – bearing a white ribbon arranged as a flower – near Babbs Mill lake.

A card attached to the flowers read: ‘With deepest sympathy. Rest in peace boys. Love from Sheldon Red Watch.’

Emergency workers are seen continuing the search for further victims after the incident yesterday

BEFORE THE INCIDENT: The frozen lake at Babbs Mill Park in Solihull earlier yesterday 

Police said searches of the lake are continuing to establish whether anyone else fell into the water

There have been reports six children went into the water during the incident yesterday 

Police officers at the scene this morning, where a ‘recovery’ operation continues 

The seven firefighters paused for a few moments of reflection before leaving the scene, having been applauded by several local people for their efforts to save the youngsters.

West Midlands mayor Andy Street was among those who left a tribute. His had a card attached that read: ‘Such a tragedy. My heart goes out to the families who have lost their most precious gift.

‘May their young lives rest in peace and may Kingshurst come together to remember them.’

Local woman Katie O’Driscoll, who was accompanied by her five-year-old daughter, also placed flowers at the site.

The mother of four said: ‘Anyone that has got kids can really relate to that we feel heartbroken as a community. The whole community cares – they will be kids that we know because we are a close-knit community.

‘It’s affected everybody. It’s devastating and it’s sad.’

Firefighters earlier described the continuing searches as a ‘recovery rather than a rescue’. 

Specialist police divers were seen entering the water under torchlight late yesterday. 

Two children – said to be aged under 12 – had been playing on the ice when it cracked beneath them. 

This prompted their friends to run onto the lake and try and help them only to get into trouble themselves, witnesses said. 

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

Nearby St Anthony’s primary school announced it had closed today, as it called for people to ‘keep those affected in your prayers’. 

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

 West Midland Fire Service chief Richard Stanton said last night the it was now a ‘recovery rather than rescue’ mission

He said: ‘When the fire service arrived on scene we were made aware that there were up to six people potentially in the water’

Nearby St Anthony’s primary school announced it had closed today, and called for people to ‘keep those affected in your prayers’ 

Eyewitnesses described seeing responders ‘smashing through’ the ice on the lake’s surface as those first on the scene swam out into the water to rescue the nearest child.

Meriden MP Saqib Bhatti also visited the scene at Babbs Mill lake today, where he praised emergency services for their heroic efforts to pull four children from the water.

The MP told reporters: ‘Clearly there is one officer who has mild hypothermia. In these conditions not to worry about your own safety and just to go after those children is heroic.

‘The (search) operation went on all night in these really tough conditions. The whole community will be feeling the pain of this. I just hope we get some good news.’ 

Solihull Council Ian Courts and deputy leader Karen Grinsell said: ‘This is just about as bad as it gets… a dreadful situation. We are completely stunned at what’s happened.

‘We are still awaiting more news. Clearly our thoughts and prayers have to be with the families in this situation. I can hardly imagine what the families are going through.’

Police officers at the scene in Babbs Mill Park in Kingshurst, Solihull this morning

Emergency services continue to search the lake after reports suggested up to six children may have been on the lake when the ice fell through 

Temperatures in Solihull were below freezing this morning, complicating the rescue efforts 

Emergency workers took to the lake yesterday evening for the search amid difficult weather condidtions 

Emergency services were seen carrying equipment to and from the lake last night 

Two of the boys were taken to Birmingham Children’s Hospital while the other two were taken to Birmingham Heartlands Hospital. No further updates on their condition were given. 

One police officer was also taken to hospital with a mild case of hypothermia, but is expected to make a full recovery. 

West Midlands Police said today: ‘Three boys have tragically died after falling into the lake at Babbs Mill Park in Solihull yesterday afternoon.

‘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.

‘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.’

A search diver is seen rising from the water of the Babbs Mill Lake last night 

A drone can be seen hovering above rescuers to shine a light for their search efforts

Police divers from the the Underwater and Specialist Search Unit have been seen entering the water at Babbs Mill Lake

A huge number of paramedics, police officers and firefighters helped with efforts as boats entered and exited the lake

Sophie, 23, a mental health support worker at the scene yesterday evening, 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.’

She claimed that one of the boys, an eight-year-old, had since died but the emergency services refused to comment on those reports during a press conference last night.

‘He’s the nephew of a friend of mine,’ she said. ‘He had been unresponsive for two hours and they have confirmed now that he has passed away.’ 

Describing the rescue efforts, Sophie said she saw four children being pulled from the icy water and transferred to waiting ambulances.

‘They stretchered them up the bank to the ambulances waiting. They were giving them CPR as they were moving.’

There were at least 10 fire engines and 10 police cars parked on one street alone, the nearest street to the lake. 

Diving teams were pictured carrying oxygen tanks to search underneath the water

Rescue teams are using specialist equipment at the scene to safely search the lake into the night

Emergency crews at Babbs Mill Lake, Kingshurst, Solihull, West Midlands

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