Firefighters have issued a stark warning about the deadly dangers of frozen lakes after youngsters were seen playing on ice in a Birmingham park.
"What We Don't Want to See": Chilling Images Prompt Warning
West Midlands Fire Service released photographs taken at Blackroot Pool in Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, on Monday, January 5. The images show a group of children on and near the frozen water, an act the service described as showing "exactly what we don't want to see."
A spokesperson for the brigade told BirminghamLive that frozen water is never safe. They expressed serious concern over children playing in such environments, highlighting that ice can be thin and unpredictable, often breaking without any warning.
The service pointed to past tragedies with devastating consequences, urging the public to learn from them.
A Raw Community Memory: The Legacy of Babbs Mill
The warning carries profound weight for the local community, which is still grieving a profound loss. Emily Fernandez, Head of Prevention at West Midlands Fire Service, directly referenced the tragedy at Babbs Mill Lake in Solihull three years ago, where four young boys died after falling through ice.
"The loss of four young boys at the frozen Babbs Mill Lake three years ago is still a very real and raw memory for our communities," Fernandez said. "Our thoughts remain with their families and friends."
She emphasised that while frozen water can look harmless, it represents one of the most dangerous winter hazards. Her plea was clear: "Please help us to avert another tragedy."
Critical Safety Advice for Parents and the Public
The fire service is calling on parents and carers to have vital conversations with children, who may not fully grasp the risks. They stress that even older children walking near canals, rivers, or lakes need to understand the peril.
The service issued clear, life-saving instructions for the public:
- Keep children and dogs away from frozen water.
- Never step onto ice under any circumstances.
- If a person or animal gets into difficulty on ice, do not enter the water or venture onto the ice yourself.
- Call 999 immediately and ask for the fire service.
Social media reactions to the shared images underscored the severity of the risk. One commenter explained the rapid physical effects of falling into icy water, noting how body temperature plummets, leading to shock and an inability to swim, with drowning occurring in mere seconds.
The message from West Midlands Fire Service is unequivocal: the beauty of a frozen lake masks a lethal threat, and vigilance is essential to prevent further heartbreak.
