Hundreds turn out for Solihull lake-death vigil

A vigil has been held for four boys who died after falling into a frozen lake.

Hundreds of people, some of them in tears, turned out at Babbs Mill Park in Kingshurst, West Midlands, to pay tribute to the victims.

There was a two-minute silence, tributes were left, then there was applause and a choir sang.

Finlay Butler, 8, his cousin Thomas Stewart, 11, and Jack Johnson, 10, died in hospital on Sunday. Finlay’s brother Samuel Butler, 6, died on Wednesday.

Many of those at the vigil said it had caused them think of children in their own families.

One woman said: “I think it’s just important to show that even though we’re not close to the community itself, that everybody’s here for the families that are affected and that we can all come together in such a difficult time.”

Another, woman, who said she had 10 grandchildren of her own, added: “My heart’s breaking for the parents, I just think it’s awful.”

An online fundraising page for the families of the boys has raised more than £66,000.

Tributes to the boys were also paid at football matches on Saturday and on Friday night.

On Monday morning an inquest into the deaths of the four boys is due to open.

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