Those poor families [sad][sad]

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...

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.

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

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?

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.

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

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
😢

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

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.

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.

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!

Only just heard this tragic news, thinking of those poor children & their families, it’s heartbreaking.

Such a tragedy. Milder recent winters have meant that many children in the UK have not seen a frozen lake nor do they understand the dangers of thin/rotten ice and have no experience of what to do.

Passed a pond near my home this afternoon and workmen appeared to be breaking up the ice. I wonder was it a Council initiative to prevent another catastrophe? Wise move.

Unbearable. So young and just having fun. I was so hopeful when I heard they'd been rescued but it was too late. A very sad Christmas in those households.

Heartbreaking.

I remember this tsm and a terrible tragedy,

It brings back dreadful memories of an episode 30 years ago. A family friend was in the local park when a dog went through the ice on the pond. The child with the dog tried to get it and went in too. Friend didn't hesitate to try and save the child, as did an off duty fireman. They all drowned. I feel quite upset thinking about it even after all this time.

Grannyben

May God bless all involved in this terrible tragedy. They would never have realised that a moments joy could result in such heartache

Well said.
Children everywhere are drawn to ice on water and every year parents and schools should issue warnings.
No ice formed so far this Winter is thick enough to play or skate on.
What a tragedy this is.

Can’t stop thinking about their families. Such a tragedy. Poor little boys.

The newsreader Joanna Gosling nearly broke down when she was reporting this tragedy on BBC News. I don’t blame her.

No warnings appear to have been publicised about the dangers of icy ponds and lakes. They always used to be.

apparently there was snow on the ice, poor little things just didn't know the danger they were in...

It's one of those occasions that is too heartbreaking to put into words.

Such a tragedy. RIP littlies.
And heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, school playmates and their wider community.

I cried when I heard about the poor boys dying. How dreadful for everyone involved, but particularly the poor parents suffering such a dreadful loss so suddenly in those awful circumstances