Those poor families [sad][sad]

There they were just being young boys, lacking the foresight and judgement that we all probably now have, but possibly didn't have way back in the mists of time when our generation roamed free. No doubt this was a big adventure, taking that risk not realising the consequences, such an irony in a world where kids are remarked upon as being wrapped in cotton wool I'm not ashamed to admit I cried, for all of those little boys, my grandson is 8 so I can only imagine their terror and the devastation their parents will feel at their loss, particularly at this time of the year. So so sad!

It’s tragic, could have been anyones child. I just don’t know how the family copes. The officers there and the public did every thing they could to save them , there is a fourth child aged 6 in intensive care, prayers with him.
Travelsfar, you don’t know the full picture. Children would not have realised that the ice was too thin to walk on.

DD’s reaction was where were the parents to let them be there unsupervised. Apparently passers by told the boys to get off the ice as it was dangerous but they didn’t listen. Not that children ever did. The parents are going to be recriminating with themselves for ever. This Christmas and every Christmas hereafter will hold no joy. Poor boys. What a tragedy.

these children were allowed out to have fun in the snow, what an absolute tragedy.

Oh gosh that brought me to tears, poor poor children a day of fun, poor families it’s tragic totally tragic
25Avalon there’s nothing strange about a 12 year old being out playing and having his siblings with him without parents

They would have no idea of the dangers or even the understanding of the cold icy waters on their little bodies
😢

Too tragic to comprehend. What must the family feel like?

I’ve just been talking to my son, now 50, and he said that when he was a child the dangers of walking on frozen ponds or lakes was dinned into them from all angles - school, public information films, television, as well as parents. It went along with warnings about walking on the railway lines.

Grandma70s

I’ve just been talking to my son, now 50, and he said that when he was a child the dangers of walking on frozen ponds or lakes was dinned into them from all angles - school, public information films, television, as well as parents. It went along with warnings about walking on the railway lines.

Most of us of a certain age will vividly remember those public information films. The one which sticks in my mind most is the 'Dark Water' one, which warned about the dangers of playing near deep water, with the Grim Reaper lurking nearby. Perhaps it's time for a rerun of them?

This has been on my mind a lot today

Such an awful tragedy and the difference in ages, this could be a whole family lost.

I hope people don't judge the parents harshly.

Almost everyone has let go of a little hand or looked away for a moment or agreed a child could go to point A and child has gone to point B. Because nothing terrible happened or parent didn't find out they don't see how quickly tragedy can strike

Sadly, tragedies like this have been happening for years. There is an old coal mine engine house in woods near to us that used to have a cooling pond until three children went through ice and drowned, along with the man who tried to save them - in 1895. The pond was drained and filled in. Children always have and probably always will be attracted to frozen ponds without seeing the dangers.

25Avalon there’s nothing strange about a 12 year old being out playing and having his siblings with him without parents

Surprised that the parents would let a 6 yr old out with no-one but a 12yr old to look after them...

there was no 12yr old. they were all under 12 is what was stated!

out playing in the snow

I can’t even imagine how their parents feel just breaks my heart, and the emergency services went through to try and save them

lemsip

there was no 12yr old. they were all under 12 is what was stated!

out playing in the snow

Apologies. I'd read 12 somewhere.

I dont have words. I am so sorry for their families.

It is beyond belief to me that anyone can make comment on where were the parents. What does that matter now? Kids go out to play in parks. I assume those making the comments were kept in until old enough to leave home. These peoples lives are forever changed so keep that in mind when the ‘where were the parents brigade’ give out their sanctimonious comments.

How desperately sad.

We don’t know how close they were to their homes My 12 year old used to take her brother and sister out to play (nearby though) I know most of my friends talk about their adventures as kids with their cousins and siblings going off for the day and coming back when they were hungry I didn’t have any siblings or nearby cousins so it never happened for me

TerriT

It is beyond belief to me that anyone can make comment on where were the parents. What does that matter now? Kids go out to play in parks. I assume those making the comments were kept in until old enough to leave home. These peoples lives are forever changed so keep that in mind when the ‘where were the parents brigade’ give out their sanctimonious comments.

Just that teribull

Sorry terryt I totally agree with you.

I was totally shocked last night watching ITV news. A woman who had witnessed a colleague prancing around naked and an asylum seeker who died of Dyptheria came before the tragic story of the 3 young boys that drowned.

What those families are going through must be unbearable to live with. My heart goes out to them.

We can only hope that the advice we give to our children, no matter how many times about certain dangers are heeded but all too often, children forget and want to join in with what they see as fun with their peers. Adults who take this risk sends a message to any child that this is safe to do. No fault or blame should be put on the parents of these children.

We were talking about this. My DH walked across an icy pond when he was a young boy. Fortunately it was only 18” deep. I used to do the same in our local park. Again, not a deep lot of water. We just thought of having fun, enjoying the iced water and kidding ourselves we were ice skating.
Desperately sad for these families who will never be the same again. 💐

Simply tragic 😥
Like others here on Gransnet, when the news broke I commented that Public Information films are no longer shown.
Surely they could be again.

Beyond awful …