Emergency service taking calls about children playing on frozen ponds and lakes

Emergency services have been taking calls about children walking and playing on ice in the same week that four boys died after being pulled from a frozen lake.

Avon and Somerset Police issued a safety warning on Saturday evening after taking “multiple calls” about children playing on a frozen pond, while Lincolnshire Police urged parents to make sure their children are aware of the dangers.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) said it has received “several” calls over the last few days and warned people to stay off ice.

Siblings Samuel Butler, six, and Finlay Butler, eight, died along with their cousin Thomas Stewart, 11, and Jack Johnson, 10, after they were rescued from Babbs Mill Lake in Kingshurst, Solihull, last Sunday.

On Saturday evening, Avon and Somerset Police tweeted: “This afternoon our control room have been receiving multiple calls concerning children playing on a frozen pond.

“Please give sufficient safety advice to children around the dangers of this.

“Please dial 999 if you witness children playing on a frozen pond.”

Lincolnshire Police tweeted: “We have had two reports in the last hour of children walking on ice in #Grantham and #Horncastle.

“As we know from the Solihull tragedy in which four boys died, the consequences of this can be utterly devastating. Please make sure your children know how dangerous this can be.”

London Fire Brigade tweeted: “We’ve taken several 999 calls over the last few days about children & dogs on frozen ponds & lakes.

“It may look sturdy enough to stand on, but it often isn’t. If you fall into icy water, the risk of hypothermia is high & can prove fatal. Stay off the ice & keep dogs on leads.”

Meanwhile, a vigil took place on Saturday afternoon in memory of the four boys who died after falling into Babbs Mill Lake.

Footage posted online showed a huge crowd turning out to pay their respects.