Four children fighting for life after falling through ice as rescuers hunt for 'missing two'

11 December 2022, 17:28 | Updated: 11 December 2022, 22:48

At least four children are fighting for their lives after falling through ice over a frozen lake in the West Midlands this afternoon.

Two more children are reportedly missing and feared dead as emergency services continued their rescue efforts through the night.

A total of six children were playing on the lake at around 2.30pm when the ice broke and some of the group fell in, West Midlands Police said.

At a press conference after 8.15pm, officials said emergency services and members of the public dived into the water to rescue three children.

Another was found soon later and a total of four children have been hospitalised, a police superintendent said.

It was soon feared that two more children could still be in the water, although officials refused to confirm nor deny these claims.

Fire chief Richard Stanton said: "We have continued search operations in order to confirm whether there were any more in the water."

Two of the rescued kids were taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital and two have been rushed to Birmingham Heartlands Hospital.

Dozens of emergency services workers and vehicles including boats, fire engines and drones remain at the scene as a search and rescue operation continues.

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Onlookers urged the children to get off the ice moments before they fell in, MailOnline reported.

West Midlands Fire Service said earlier that people had been playing on the ice before falling in.

Several are now fighting for their lives in hospital, police said.

West Midlands Police wrote shortly before 4.30pm: "We are currently at the scene of a serious incident at Babbs Mill Park, Fordbridge Road, Kingshurst, Solihull.

"A number of people have been pulled from a lake and are being transported to hospital.

"They are believed to be in a critical condition."

Sub-zero temperatures are expected in the area this evening after 0C was recorded during the day.

Police in Cumbria said they are also dealing with an "incident" at Siddick Pond, Workington, BBC News reported.

It's not known what caused the incidents, nor the exact conditions of the people involved.

The Met Office that thin ice atop rivers and ponds can be a hazard to life.

A spokesperson said: "With temperatures set to struggle to get much above freezing over the coming days across much of the country, stretches of water such as rivers and ponds are at risk of freezing.

"While frozen rivers and ponds can be fascinating, they can be dangerous and a hazard to life."