Brave schoolgirl, 13, who tried to save three boys who died in Solihull lake tells of desperate rescue effort

14 December 2022, 11:18 | Updated: 14 December 2022, 11:36

By Fran Way

@journofran

A brave schoolgirl who tried to save the three boys who died in Solihull has spoken out about the horror scene she witnessed, and her efforts to rescue them.

Oliwia Szewc, 13, desperately tried to use tree branches to smash ice to rescue the boys after they fell through ice at Babbs Mill Lake.

The teenager said she had been meeting a friend at the nature park when she watched the terrible incident unfold on Sunday night.

She said while her friend was on the phone to 999, she scrambled around looking for ways to help.

READ MORE:'Like a brother to me': Heartbreaking message among the mountain of tributes left for Solihull lake victims

READ MORE: Three boys aged eight, ten and 11 die and six-year-old critical after falling through ice at Solihull lake

She bravely told ITV: “I was shocked and panicked, me and my friend have never been in that situation before.

“I was just trying to find branches of trees to try and try to pass it to them but they were all too short.

“I was just trying my best to think of different ways to at least help them or do anything for them to float on the surface of the water so they wouldn’t drown.

“I was thinking about what would be able to pull them back to shore? And then I just looked at a tree and I was like, that’s it.

“I should just get a branch I try. I got the branch, but it was too short.”

Jack Johnson, 10, and two other boys – aged 8 and 11 – passed away after falling into the lake.

A six-year-old boy remains in critical condition in hospital after he was also pulled from the water in cardiac arrest.

She told the TV channel: "It was just horrifying and I was clueless. I tried to help but I couldn't, I tried my best.

“Ambulance workers were asking for jackets and coats to try and bring the boys temperatures back up. So I gave my coat my friend gave her jacket, we were just praying that the boys would be alright. I was willing to give up anything to save one of them.

“When we got to school today we gave each other a hug and said we tried our best, because we did. If we hadn’t of called 999 nobody would have known this happened to the boys.”

“I think it’s important for more people to know the dangers of frozen lakes because this is a traumatising moment."