Boys death in frozen lake babs miles accidental, coroner rules

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By Andy Giddings, BBC News, West Midlands Jul 7, 2023 12:31 BST

Updated 54 minutes ago

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Jack Johnson, the Finley brothers, Samuel Butler, and their cousin Thomas Stewart died after falling into the icy lake.

The coroner concludes that four boys died in an accident on a frozen lake after they went to feed the ducks.

Finley Butler, eight, and his younger brother Samuel, six, died, as did their cousin Thomas Stewart, 11, and another boy, Jack Johnson, 10.

They took to the water at Babbs Mill Park, near Solihull, on 11 December.

The police formed a human chain to try to rescue them, with one of the officers trying to break through the ice to get to the boys.

In summing up, Chief Coroner Louise Hunt said she was satisfied that “the emergency services did their best”, that “treatment at hospital was good” and “everyone did everything they could and their actions should be commended”.

Jack was at the lake with one group of children while the other three were in another group, the inquest heard.

Then Jack decided to go onto the ice and Thomas, Finlay and Samuel followed suit, said Det Insp Jim Edmunds, of West Midlands Police.

First Finlay and then Thomas and Jack fell as they tried to help. No one saw Samuel fall.

After they fell, witnesses said they saw the boys in the water screaming for help, but they could not get out and shortly thereafter the boys went below the surface.

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A vigil and flowers were held after the boys’ deaths

Det Insp Edmunds said his officers were at the lake 11 minutes after receiving the first 999 call at around 14:35 GMT.

Ignoring safety advice, they took off body armor and waded in an attempt to reach the area where they thought the boys had fallen.

They used their fists and clubs to break through the ice, but Det Insp Edmunds said the water was too deep for them to reach.

At the start of the inquest, Mrs. Hunt read a brief description of the boys that their families had written.

Jack has been described as a “loving, caring boy” who enjoys being outside and loves animals.

Tom’s family said he “always had a smile on his face” and loved getting out on his bike and meeting new friends in the park.

It was said that Finlay “adored the outdoors, no matter the weather” and enjoyed the park.

His family has also said that he loves Pokemon Cards and often gives them to friends who don’t have them.

Samuel was described as “the funniest six-year-old I’ve ever met” and had a passion for Iron Man, dogs and fire trucks.

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Memorial plaques have been left near the lake

The air temperature in the lake at the time was 5 degrees Celsius (41 Fahrenheit) and the water temperature was even lower, said Det Insp Edmunds, which affected the officers’ ability to work.

Jason Wiles, of the West Midlands Ambulance Service, said there was a significant risk to the rescuers themselves.

He added that the paramedics shouted to the rescuers to get out and one of the police officers was in the water up to his neck.

Mr. Wells said the officer may have just got out of the water just in time.

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Boys are honored in the park

The last child, Finlay, was pulled from the water by firefighters at 15:05 GMT, half an hour after the first 999 call.

“Unfortunately the boys were under water for between 22 and 32 minutes,” said Ms Hunt.

Det Insp Edmunds said he did not know why the ice had been broken but that it was a “terrible tragedy”.

He told the inquest that he did not think his team could have done anything differently.

Mr. Wiles said the boys all received the best possible treatment on the way to hospital, but brain damage would have occurred minutes after they were doused.

There were tears from the boys’ families as Dr Sarah Denniston, of Birmingham Hartlands Hospital, said that inquest efforts had been made to resuscitate the boys in vain and that drowning was the cause of death.

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The air temperature in the lake was 5 degrees Celsius (41 Fahrenheit) and the water temperature was even lower, according to the inquiry.

Alex Chapman, of the West Midlands Fire Service, said the temperature of the water in the lake would have sent shockwaves through the boys’ bodies.

He also said there was nothing else the firefighters could do that day.

He added that the fire department will review prevention work and plan regular safety campaigns in summer and winter to focus on water hazards.

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West Midlands Ambulance Service said the deaths had deeply affected many of its staff

After the investigation, District Commander Alex Shapland said, “Within days of the boys’ deaths, we and colleagues across the country were horrified to see people still risking their lives on the frozen water.”

Shapland said an incident like the one at Babbs Mill Lake could not be allowed to happen again.

James Williams, of the West Midlands Ambulance Service, said it had been an “incredible effort” by the emergency services to try to save the boys and a “tragedy” that they had been unsuccessful.

He said it “affected many of them deeply, knowing that those incredible efforts weren’t enough.”

Subt Rich Harris, of West Midlands Police, said after the inquest he was “extremely proud of these officers who showed such courage and put aside their own safety in an effort to save the lives of Jack, Tom, Finn and Sam”.

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