Revealed: Hero policeman who punched through ice on Solihull lake to save four boys is a student officer in his early 20s who only joined force in the spring

• Three boys aged eight, 10 and 11 died falling into ice in Babbs Mill Park, Solihull
• Officer tried to punch through ice to save the boys – now known he was a student
• Hero officer only joined the force in spring and will return to work later this week 

The hero policeman who punched through ice on a lake in Solihull to try and save a group of young boys is a student officer in his early 20s who was on one of his first rotations.

Jack Johnson, 10, was one of three children who lost their lives after falling into a frozen lake at Babbs Mill Park, Solihull, Midlands, at the weekend. Two other boys aged eight and 11 also died while a fourth, just six years old, is fighting for his life in hospital.    

All four boys were pulled from the lake by police and fire crews but the three older children could not be saved. 

Police earlier told how an officer had to be treated for mild hypothermia after trying to punch through the ice to save the boys – it has now been revealed this was a young officer who only joined the force in spring.

The officer, described by colleagues as a ‘hero’ will be back to work later in the week after recovering from hypothermia and a bleed to his hand, according to reports. 

One of the boys who died after plunging into a frozen lake in Solihull was 10-year-old Jack Johnson (pictured with his father Kirk)

Rich Cooke, chair of West Midlands Police Federation, told The Telegraph he had spoken to the officer and he is ‘doing OK’. He said he was a young officer, like many of the others that attended.

He said they ‘tried to help in whatever way they could’.  

‘They got the kids out as quickly as they could and I’ve been trying to remind them all they did the best they could and that’s all anyone can do,’ the police chief added.

‘He’s been through a lot since he joined because uniformed policing nowadays we get a higher concentration of traumatic incidents on lots of personnel. He is on his days off at the moment but he will be back later in the week. He’s not going to be off sick or anything.

‘He is absolutely a hero and put his own life at risk, not just him but all the officers who tried to help. They did get the boys out and gave them the best possible chance of survival.’

Officers from West Midlands Police stood in silence near to the scene in Babbs Mill Park

Members of the force lay flowers in tribute after the deaths of three boys aged eight, 10 and 11

Police officers at the scene in Babbs Mill Park in Kingshurst, Solihull on Sunday 

Emergency services as they searched the lake after reports suggested up to six children may have been on the lake when the ice fell through 

The seven firefighters paused for a few moments of reflection before leaving the scene, having been applauded by several local people for their efforts to save the youngsters

Mourners continue to add to the tributes that have been left following the boys’ deaths

Witness Sandra Colley, 52, told the newspaper she sat with the officer afterwards and he was ‘shaking’ and ‘quiet’.

She said he was injured and could see blood coming from his hands. 

The witness told how she got him a hot sugary drink as he appeared to be in shock and ‘traumatised’.   

The officers involved are being supported. 

At a press conference on Monday, Superintendent Richard Harris, of West Midlands Police, appeared emotional as he told how an officer had to be treated for mild hypothermia after trying to punch through the ice to save the boys.

‘One of my officers was trying to punch through the ice to rescue the children themselves,’ he said.

‘That officer as a result of that had some mild hypothermia yesterday.’

The officers who initially arrived at the scene went into the lake in their ordinary uniforms rather than specialist equipment.

Superintendent Harris said the officer who was treated for hypothermia is now ‘absolutely fine’ and has been released from hospital.

Jack (pictured) and three other boys aged six, eight, and 11, were taken to hospital in a critical condition after suffering cardiac arrests having fallen through ice at Babbs Mill Park

The aunt of Jack Johnson said on Facebook that he ‘ran and tried to save’ three other children – including a six-year-old – who had been on the frozen lake when the ice broke. 

In a post on social media, Charlotte McIlmurray, described the tragedy as a ‘nightmare’, adding ‘that two families can’t wake from the pain is unimaginable’.

‘My nephew seen one go through the ice and he ran and tried to save them. 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,’ she wrote.  

‘He (Jack) was my nephew, so I know the pain is a million times worse for their moms, dads, sisters/brothers,’ she added.

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