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Babbs Mill: Bravery award for officers in frozen lake rescue bid

Police formed a human chain as they tried in vain to rescue four boys from the icy lake

Officers who formed a human chain to try to rescue four boys from a frozen lake have been recognised for bravery.

Fourteen West Midlands Police officers tried to save the boys who fell in the Babbs Mill Park lake, near Solihull, on 11 December after feeding ducks.

One used his fist in an attempt to punch through the ice to reach them, however the boys could not be saved.

The officers were all handed Police Bravery Awards by the Police Federation of England and Wales on Thursday.

The award was "bittersweet", one of the officers, Sgt Fergal Sharkey, said and added he accepted it on behalf of "the families and the victims".

Finlay Butler, eight, and his younger brother Samuel, six, died, as did their cousin Thomas Stewart, 11, and another boy, Jack Johnson, 10.

A coroner concluded the boys' deaths were accidental.

Family From left, Jack Johnson, brothers Finlay and Samuel Butler and Thomas StewartFamily
Jack Johnson, brothers Finlay and Samuel Butler and their cousin Thomas Stewart died after falling into the icy lake

"I realised that it wasn't going to work, however much we tried, so I broke the link of the chains and carried on, smashing the ice with my elbows," Sgt Fergal Sharkey said.

"It came naturally to all of us when we realised, we just couldn't do it. We couldn't do any more without putting our lives in serious danger."

The children were eventually reached by specialist fire crews, who were better equipped.

Abandoning the rescue was "a difficult decision" Sgt Paula McDowell said, adding her team were all feeling the effects of the cold.

"To preserve life, that's our ultimate goal and it's just heart-wrenching that on that day we couldn't do that, we just tried our best," PC Anthony Maginnis added.

Fergal Sharkey
Sgt Fergal Sharkey used his elbows to smash the ice but said they realised they just could not reach the boys without endangering themselves

The 14 officers recognised were:

  • Sgt Paula McDowell
  • Sgt Fergal Sharkey
  • PC Harriet Batchelor
  • PC Alana Grigg
  • PC Stewart Powers
  • PC Joshua Adams
  • PC Anthony Maginnis
  • PC William Finnegan
  • PC Fidha Akhtar
  • PC Olivia Studholme
  • PC Charanjit Chana
  • PC Jordan Finn
  • PCSO Chloe Westlake
  • and an officer who wished to remain anonymous

Paying tribute, Supt Rich Harris said the first officers were on the scene within minutes and "tried so desperately to rescue the boys" in sub-zero temperatures.

"I am incredibly proud that the bravery of all those involved in trying so desperately to save the lives of Fin, Tom, Jack and Sam, has been recognised," he added.

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