Solihull lake tragedy: Four boys who died after falling through ice drowned, inquest told

Four boys who died after falling through the ice of a frozen lake drowned, an inquest hearing has been told.

Brothers Samuel and Finlay Butler, their cousin Thomas Stewart, and a fourth boy, Jack Johnson, were “playing” when they fell into Babbs Mill Lake on Sunday, 11 December, the inquest heard.

The four children were all in cardiac arrest when rescue teams pulled them out of the water and emergency services rushed them to hospital.

Two of the boys, Jack, 10, Thomas, 11, died later that day, while Finlay died the following day.

Samuel, aged six, was taken to hospital in a critical condition, but died three days later, on December 14.

Over the weekend, hundreds of people gathered for a vigil at a makeshift memorial near the scene to pay tribute to the boys.

An initial inquest hearing, held on Monday in Birmingham, was told three of the boys were rescued after 22 minutes in the water, while a fourth was pulled from the lake after 31 minutes.

Senior Coroner for Birmingham and Solihull Louise Hunt described the circumstances as a “devastating tragedy”, as she opened and adjourned the four inquests.

A full inquest is due to be heard in July, with Ms Hunt saying the hearing will look at the “circumstances leading to the deaths and the cause of death.”

She addressed her closing remarks to the boys’ families, none of whom were physically present in court, and said: “I’d like to offer you all my sincere condolences

“Your boys’ deaths are a devastating tragedy for you all and it is difficult for us all to comprehend the pain and grief you all must feel at this terrible time.

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“In due course, I hope the inquest will help you understand what happened, including the valiant attempts by the emergency services to save the boys.”

Detective Inspector Jim Edmonds, of West Midlands Police, who gave details of how people initially raised the alarm, also praised the subsequent “heroic efforts” of the emergency services to save the boys.

He also told the inquest that emergency services had responded “at pace” after receiving initial reports.

Last week, a relative of Jack warned children “not to take risks on open water” following the tragedy.

The relative, who asked not to be named, told Sky News: “The kids were playing on the ice, they shouldn’t have been, but kids will be kids. They did not see the harm and danger, it was just fun for them.

“We would hate for another family to go through this, please talk to your kids and explain to them not to take risks on open water.”

The relative, who approached Sky News, referred to the boys who died in the incident as the “little princes”.

Meanwhile, in a statement, released through West Midlands Police, the parents of Thomas, Finlay and Samuel, said: “As a family we are devastated at the loss of our beautiful boys Tom, Fin and Sam in such tragic circumstances.”

Thomas’ older brother paid tribute to him and his cousin in a statement, writing: “Thomas was such a lively little soul, he had a big heart for such a young kid and he was so beautiful. He loved being outside playing with his mates.

“I love you Tom, big bro will take care of the family and I will see you soon.”

Paying tribute to his cousin, Finlay, he wrote: “Can’t forget about my dinosaur man Fin, he loved dinosaurs so much and always showing me new things he built on Minecraft and all the new stuff he learnt on it. Gonna miss you little man.”