Jude Bellingham and Jed Wallace pay tribute to children who died in Solihull lake tragedy

Jude Bellingham and Jed Wallace pay tribute to the children who died in the Solihull lake tragedy with one child in a critical condition.

The Baggies midfielder, named the man of the match as the his side came from behind to beat Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday, paid tribute to the three kids who lost their lives at a frozen lake in Solihull.

His message was in reference to the three boys who died after falling into a freezing Babbs Mill Lake in Kingshurst, Solihull, on Sunday afternoon.

Football has been put into perspective with the loss of the children in the tragic accident in Solihull. Our thoughts go to the bereaved families. We meet twice in the coming weeks, Wrexham fans have set up a donations page to raise funds for the families https://t.co/YClDbGZpnZ

— Wrexham Fans United (@v_wrexham) December 13, 2022

West Midlands Police confirmed on Monday that the boys, aged eight, 10 and 11, were “rushed to hospital after being pulled from the water” but “sadly could not be revived” and a fourth boy, aged six, remains in critical condition.

“I live in Solihull and it’s been tough seeing what’s happening there,” Wallace told Sky Sports. “For everyone at West Brom, the fans, the players, the staff – we want to send our best to everyone’s family and all those involved in the incident. It’s been a tough couple of days.

“Of course, we lost our beloved club doctor [Julian Widdowson] which was hard for us all, especially the medical team. We wanted to get a win for him today. For the fans who travelled in these conditions – thanks to them for following us and now we can carry on climbing up the league table.”

West Brom dedicated their win to club doctor Julian Widdowson & the families affected by the incident in Solihull 🙏 pic.twitter.com/kRaABsEKKK

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) December 13, 2022

Fellow West Brom teammate Daryl Dike was alongside Wallace as he sent out the message live on Sky Sports. The American forward netted his first goal of the season on the night, with the winner guiding Carlos Corberan’s side to a fourth successive victory in the Championship.

Dike nodded his head in agreement with what Wallace had to say as he paid tribute to those involved in the Solihull tragedy.

He also had his own words for Widdowson, who passed away on Sunday, aged 63. “He’s someone I built up a bigger relationship with,” Dike told Sky Sports.

“What happened recently [with Widdowson and in Solihull], it hits home. It makes you think to cherish and spend time with your loved ones. You never know what’s going to happen. Live in the moment.”

A six-year-old boy who fell through ice into a lake in Solihull is still fighting for his life, as one of the three children who died was named locally.

Mourners left flowers, balloons, soft toys and lighted candles at a vigil held on Monday night following the deaths of three boys aged eight, 10 and 11.

One of those who died has been named as 10-year-old Jack Johnson, who has been described to Sky News as a “hero” because he went into the lake to try to save others.

The boys fell through the ice into Babbs Mill lake in the West Midlands along with a fourth boy, aged six.

Police said on Tuesday morning that he was still in a critical condition in hospital.

He was pulled from the water by emergency crews, including a police officer who tried to punch through ice during the rescue efforts.

A 10-year-old boy who died after falling into a freezing lake in Solihull was reportedly trying to rescue the other children who had fallen through the ice. He died alongside two other boys, aged 8 and 11 in the accident at Babbs Mill nature reserve. @NityaGRajan reports pic.twitter.com/S33IMh48Pz

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) December 13, 2022

A friend of one of the boys who died told Sky News what happened.

Tommy Barnet, 10, said one of the boys got his legs stuck in the ice before his friends rushed over to help him, but they all fell in.

Tommy told Sky News: “They were all playing on the ice, one got their legs stuck in the ice and then… his friends went to go and save him, but they all fell in.

“When it was summer, we used to go in the woods and play hide and seek next to the lake. But I wasn’t here yesterday.”

“It’s so sad, I am upset,” Tommy said, as he described how the community was waiting to hear the names of the other boys involved.

“They want them [the police] to reveal more information about it just to make sure who it is.”

The four kids were all in cardiac arrest when rescue teams pulled them out and taken to hospital but police said three of them “could not be revived”.

Reports from the scene indicate they were playing on the ice and fell through, the fire service said.

Members of the public and police officers at first went into the cold water to try to get the youngsters out, before the children were reached by specialist water rescue-trained firefighters who got the group to safety.

Families affected by the tragedy are “absolutely devastated”, said Superintendent Richard Harris of West Midlands Police.

A search of the lake went on going into Tuesday after unconfirmed reports that six children were on the lake at the time of the accident, but police say that no else has been reported missing but have vowed to carry on the search until they are certain there are no other victims.

Solihull Moors wrote: “We are deeply saddened by the events in Solihull over the past 24 hours.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of those affected at this extremely difficult time.”

Jude Bellingham sent his “love and support” to the families of three boys who died after falling into an icy lake.

The England international, from Stourbridge in the West Midlands, shared a photograph of a vigil held next to the entrance to the park in Solihull, on Instagram, writing: “Sending love and support to the families, RIP”, followed by a broken heart emoji.

We are deeply saddened by the events in Solihull over the past 24 hours.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of those affected at this extremely difficult time.

— Solihull Moors FC (@SolihullMoors) December 12, 2022

As Jude Bellingham and Jed Wallace pay tribute to children who died in Solihull lake tragedy, warnings have been published about ice safety.

Temperatures are thought to have been at 1C (34F) in the area at the time of the incident, falling to -3C (26F) overnight.

Temperatures could drop as low as -15 in parts of the counttry, with the RoSPA saying it is concerned that icy conditions could result in further harm.

David Walker, head of road and leisure safety, said: “With the current weather conditions as they are, it’s important that people are especially careful around open waters.

“If you encounter somebody who is in trouble on or near ice, it’s vital that you don’t go in too.

“Call the emergency services on 999. If you can, find an object like a pole or a life-ring that they can hold onto and help them stay afloat.”

RoSPA’s key safety advice if someone falls through the ice:
– Call the emergency services
– Do not attempt to go out on to the ice yourself
– Tell the person to stay still to maintain heat and energy
– Try finding something which will extend your reach, such as a rope, pole or branch
– Throw the object out and, once ensuring you are stable on the bank either by lying down or having someone hold on to you, pull them in
– If you cannot find something to reach with, try finding an object that will float and push that out to them
– Ensure that you keep off the ice at all times during the rescue, continue to reassure the casualty and keep them talking until help arrives
– Once the person has been rescued, keep them warm and take them to hospital even if they appear to be unaffected

Jack Johnson ‘ran and tried to save’ the other children – whom he did not know and who are all believed to be from one family – his aunt Charlotte McIlmurray wrote via Facebook.

‘My nephew seen one go through the ice and he ran and tried to save them. We are just broken over it and to find out he died trying to save three lads he didn’t even know, that just sums him up, he was amazing.’

McIlmurray described the loss of Jack and the other boys as a ‘nightmare that two families can’t wake from’, adding ‘the pain is unimaginable’ but said it would be ‘a million times worse’ for those related to the other children.

‘It has been the most devastating day in our family’s life,’ another relative, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

Family friend Dale Hewitt said he had heard that the boy’s grandfather, who he named as Peter, ‘ran down from where he lives and jumped in the lake to try to save them’ but Jack and two boys, aged eight and 11, died after being pulled from the lake, while a fourth, aged six, has been fighting for his life in hospital.

Roofer Mr Hewitt, 29, added:  ‘It’s just heartbreaking for the family and will have a massive impact on the whole community. 

‘What’s happened is so sad. I’ve got two kids aged six and 11 months and it has really affected me. 

‘I saw a video taken from one of the tower blocks where you can hear these screams of “help” coming from the lake. It was unbearable.’

Ms McIlmurray, 28, said her family’s thoughts were also ‘with the other family’, adding: ‘We are just broken over it and to find out he died trying to save three lads he didn’t even know that just sums him up he was amazing.’