Police to keep searching Solihull lake until they are ‘100 per cent certain no one else in water’

Police have said they will continue to search a Solihull lake until they are ‘100 per cent certain’ there are no other casualties amid speculation there could be two more children in the water. A senior officer confirmed there had been no contact from anyone suggesting others were missing after the tragedy at Babbs Mill Park but said crews will remain at the scene to carry out extensive searches.

Superintendent Richard Harris, of West Midlands Police, told a press conference that officers would be there for ‘as long as it takes’ with the search operation likely to continue into the evening, reports BirminghamLive. He added: “Yesterday evening (December 11) we had a number of different reports suggesting numbers of young people who may have been on the lake.

“Those reports don’t match the children that were rescued from the lake yesterday. However, we have to be 100 per cent certain there is no one else possibly in the water at this time.”

READ MORE: Three young boys dead after falling into frozen lake in Solihull

He added: “It is important to stress, though, that we have had no contact from anybody suggesting there is anybody else missing. But until we are 100 per cent certain, we will be carrying on searches throughout the course of today (December 12).”

Downing Street said the deaths of the three children were tragic but praised the response of the emergency services. A spokesman for PM Rishi Sunak said: “Obviously this is devastating news for the family and friends of those who have died. This is a tragic incident.

“The Prime Minister’s thoughts are with them and obviously he passes his thanks to the emergency services who are continuing to work and provide support.” Area Commander for West Midlands Fire Service Richard Stanton said the tragic incident was a ‘stark reminder’ of the dangers of open water.

He told the press conference at the scene: “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.”

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