Concerned parents spotted five children aged around 12 walking across a frozen lake hours after the Lake Solihull tragedy.
Witnesses saw the youngsters on the lake near the Gurnell Leisure Center in Ealing, west London, on Monday and, despite ordering them to get off, say they continued to play.
Less than 24 hours earlier, four children plunged through the ice into a frozen lake in Solihull, West Midlands. Three boys – aged 8, 10 and 11 – have died despite lifeguard heroes breaking the ice with their bare hands in an attempt to save them.
According My Londonone man, who saw the children in the capital, wrote on Facebook: “I have just passed the ponds near the Gurnell Leisure Center and there is a group of about 5 children walking on the ice. Me and another man shouted over telling them it’s dangerous and to get down but they wouldn’t.
“They all looked like 12/13 maybe? Please tell your kids about the dangers of walking on the ice. Do it. Also don’t follow the crowd even if They’re having a fantastic time. And yeah, thanks for telling those kids. Even though they ignored it. I hope their parents are on Facebook. I’d say I’m calling your school. And I would also call all high schools.
Temperatures remained below freezing in the early hours of the morning across large swaths of the country.
Parents were horrified by the Ealing incident, with one writing on Facebook: “As a parent kids need to be reminded. I spoke to my youngest of 16 to reinforce this Don’t walk on frozen ponds, lakes, etc. She knows and said “I know” I know she knows but she understands Parents remind your kids they don’t care if it’s 20 times a day.”
Others felt that the poster should have done more to stop the children, with a writing: “I would have called the police and the fire department.”
Meanwhile, another added: “Obviously they haven’t seen the news. It literally happened to these poor 4 boys. It would be worth calling the police and reporting it. No more poor deaths. “
Tributes were paid to the boys of Solihull, including brave Jack Johnson who went into the lake to try to save the others. The 10-year-old’s family said it was ‘the most devastating day of their lives’.
Comments are closed.