(DailyVantage.com) – Wintertime is full of fun activities, such as sledding and ice skating, but the inclement weather and cold temperatures can also pose dangers. A community in England is now struggling to deal with the consequences after authorities pulled four young boys from a frozen lake after the ice broke. Sadly, three of them died.
On Sunday, December 11, three young boys, ages 8, 10, and 11, lost their lives after falling into a frozen lake in the English town of Solihull. According to ITV News, they were reportedly playing on the ice when it gave way. All the boys were in cardiac arrest when specialty firefighters pulled them out of the water. One 6-year-old remains in critical condition at the hospital.
Three young boys who fell through ice covering a lake in central England have died and a fourth remains hospitalized as weather forecasters issued severe weather warnings for large parts of the United Kingdom. https://t.co/mVnXqJkNLP
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 12, 2022
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office spoke out about the tragedy, calling it “devastating news” for the victims’ friends and families and adding that “the prime minister’s thoughts are with them,” per a Reuter’s report.
Some local law enforcement officers responding to the emergency went into the water without special clothing or equipment to save the children. As a result, one officer suffered mild hypothermia, but doctors expect him to recover completely. Authorities did not confirm any family relationship between the kids.
Because ice doesn’t tend to freeze uniformly, ensure the surface is safe before proceeding, whether skating or walking on it. Some experts say ice over bodies of water should be a minimum of 4 inches thick before people attempt recreation.
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