Six-year-old boy becomes fourth child to die after falling through ice on Solihull lake

A six-year-old boy has become the fourth child to die after falling into an ice covered lake in Solihull.

The child, who is the younger brother of an eight-year-old boy who also died in the tragedy, had been fighting for his life in hospital ever since the incident at Babbs Mill nature reserve on Sunday.

Jack Johnson, 10, and a boy named locally as Thomas, believed to be 11, also died after they fell into the sub zero waters.

West Midlands Police said on Wednesday that it "cannot comprehend the enormity of the pain" that the victims' families and friends must be going through.

At a makeshift memorial near the lake, bouquets of flowers, balloons and messages have been left by members of the local community.

Many parents brought tearful school children along to the tribute to say goodbye to their friends.

One message read: "Rest in peace Thomas. Can’t believe I’ve lost one of my best mates. Miss you."

Another, also to Thomas, said: "Dear Tom, it’s Izz. I’m so sorry this has happened to you. I will miss you so much you’re the sweetest child ever and you are like a brother to me."

Over the past three days a steady stream of people have come to pay their respects to the boys, and to praise the emergency services that tried desperately to save them.

On Tuesday, it emerged that a student police officer had attempted to punch through the ice to rescue them.

The response officer in his early 20s was on one of his first rotations when he risked his life to try and save the boys. He is currently recovering from hypothermia, but plans to return to work next week.

Rich Cooke, chair of West Midlands Police Federation, told the Telegraph: "He is absolutely a hero and put his own life at risk, not just him but all the officers who tried to help."

A 13-year-old girl, Oliwia Szewc, also did all she could to help the boys and desperately broke off branches from trees and held them out to the children in the lake.

Oliwia said one of the victim's fathers had to be stopped by officers from running into the freezing water as the tragedy unfolded.

On Monday, Jack Johnson’s aunt revealed that he had seen the other children fall through the ice and had tried to save them.

"My nephew seen one go through the ice and he ran and tried to save them," she wrote on Facebook.

"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."

Another relative of Jack’s told The Telegraph: "It has been the most devastating day in our family’s life."

The other children involved are yet to be named publicly, but police said they were supporting their families.

It had initially been feared that up to six children had fallen into the icy waters and specialist teams have spent the past three days searching the lake.

However, West Midlands Police said on Wednesday that the search had been completed and cordons surrounding the nature reserve would be lifted.