Luxury Jaguar Pulled from Solihull Lake After Litter Picker's Discovery
Emergency services responded to a dramatic scene at Babbs Mill Lake in Solihull on Tuesday, March 17, after a litter picker discovered a luxury Jaguar submerged in the water. The incident unfolded when Clive Rossiter, 54, was conducting his daily litter collection around the lake at approximately 10am.
Mr. Rossiter noticed an unusual shape beneath the water's surface as sunlight reflected off the object, revealing the outline of a car. He immediately reported his discovery to West Midlands Police and Solihull Council, prompting a swift emergency response.
Emergency Response and Vehicle Recovery
By around noon, authorities had established a cordon around the area. West Midlands Fire Service dispatched a specialized team to the location, where they attached ropes to the submerged vehicle. The white luxury Jaguar was then carefully winched out of the lake as a small crowd of onlookers watched the operation.
A police spokesperson confirmed that officers were called to Babbs Mill Lake just after 12:05pm following reports of an abandoned vehicle in the water. The fire service also attended the scene, conducting thorough checks of the vehicle and surrounding area. Fortunately, no individuals were found inside the car or in the immediate vicinity.
Ongoing Investigations and Historical Context
Enquiries are currently underway to trace the registered keeper of the vehicle and determine how the luxury car came to be submerged in the lake. The police spokesperson emphasized that investigations are ongoing to identify the vehicle's owner and circumstances surrounding the incident.
This location carries significant historical weight, as Babbs Mill Lake was the site of a tragic incident in December 2022 when four young boys lost their lives after falling through ice into the freezing water. The community remains particularly sensitive to emergencies at this location given that past tragedy.
Mr. Rossiter described the moment of discovery: "I was out doing my usual litter pick and I saw it because the sunshine hit it and it caught my eye. It was just an unusual shape in the water and I looked again and noticed it was a car." He reported the finding to authorities, noting that apparently another individual had also contacted emergency services about the submerged vehicle.
West Midlands Fire Service confirmed they were called at 12:10pm to reports of a vehicle submerged in water. After conducting comprehensive searches and confirming no occupants were present, they left the recovery arrangements to police and council authorities. The vehicle recovery operation concluded successfully with the luxury Jaguar removed from the water for further investigation.
