The family of one of the four boys who lost their lives after falling through ice on a frozen lake in Solihull is warning children “not to take risks on open water”.
A relative of Jack Johnson, 10, 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, at Babbs Mill Park on Sunday, as the “little princes”.
They said that Jack’s father, Kirk, had “jumped straight in alongside an older gentleman who had been walking his dog,” and tried to save him.
Jack’s dad suffered cuts to his legs.
The family member said that Jack’s parents Kerry and Kirk wanted to send their “love and condolences” to the families of brothers Finlay Butler, eight, and Samuel Butler, six, and their cousin Thomas Stewart, 11, who also lost their lives.
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They said “our hearts and deepest sympathies go out to them”.
They also paid tribute to the emergency services: “We would like to say a massive thank you to the firefighters, the doctors and nurses at the hospital, the police for trying so hard to bring them back, the paramedics at the scene, the dog walker and all of the members of the public who offered blankets and coats and also Birmingham City Football Club who’ve offered their support.”
The family said they wanted “time to grieve and mourn the losses of our little princes”.
They said that Jack’s funeral would be a private occasion.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for the funerals of the four boys.
Headteacher of St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School, Cieran Flaherty, said in a statement: “Jack was a loving, bubbly pupil with a heart of gold.
“Someone who would always check in on others and make sure they were doing ok. He was a joy to teach and a child who we are all so very proud of.
“A ray of sunshine who would never fail to make us all smile. We can only say thank you to him for brightening up our lives.
“The school family remains in a state of shock at this tragic news.
“The school is a small close-knit family and we have a strong community that in times of adversity always pulls together.
“Our motto centred around our faith is actions speak louder than words and we can all be assured that our actions and prayers will centre on supporting Jack’s family, his classmates and the whole community.
“We are working with a range of agencies and have had expert advice for how best to support our staff and children.
“This morning we welcomed back all our children by holding collective worship in each class and a special service of remembrance for his classmates.
“We thank everyone for their heartfelt messages of support locally and from around the world. Please keep our community in your prayers.”
