Fans mourns on Solihull lake fall victims

• A minute’s silence was observed during Birmingham City’s game against Reading.
• Similar arrangements will be made for matches on Saturday and Sunday.
• The four boys, ages 6, 8, 10, and 11, drowned at Babbs Mill Park, close to Solihull.

Four lads who died after falling into Solihull icy lake are being remembered by football fans at games throughout the West Midlands.

A minute of silence was observed during Birmingham City’s game against Reading on Friday, and similar arrangements will be made for the matches on Saturday.

The Blues’ staff and players all donned black armbands throughout the game.

The four boys, ages 6, 8, 10, and 11, drowned at Babbs Mill Park, close to Solihull, after falling into the water.

Finlay Butler, age 8, his cousin Thomas Stewart, age 11, and Jack Johnson, age 10, passed away on Sunday at the hospital.

Samuel, Finley’s sibling, was confirmed dead by the police on Wednesday. Samuel was six years old.

Football players, like Tyrone Mings and his Aston Villa teammate John McGinn, paid the area a visit to leave flowers during the week.

John Eustace, the head coach of Birmingham City, also laid a wreath of flowers as a mark of respect on behalf of the team.

On Saturday, West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City Women both announced that they would remember the victims during the fourth minute of their matches against Rotherham United and respectively.

The involved families will be supported financially for the next two home games, according to Solihull Moors Football Club.

On Saturday at 16:00 GMT, there will be a vigil for the lads, and many people are anticipated to show up.

The doors to local St Barnabas Anglican Church will be open at the same time “for those who want to pay their own private tribute”, said the Rev Mandy Harris.

The annual church carol concert on Sunday will also honor the deceased.

“There’s no way we could stand and sing carols when the deaths of the boys would weigh so heavy on the heart,” she said.

A silence will be held, prayers said and a candle lit, she added.

Emil Kerekes, lead pastor at the Connection Church in Kingshurst, said the feeling among the local community was one of “heartbroken spirit”.

“Once the vigil is over we can slowly move towards quietness and peace, and we will see how we can support the families and the community,” he said.

Pubs donated more than £4,000 in cash, which was originally earmarked for a Christmas toy drive, as part of the effort by neighborhood businesses to support the boys’ families.

Tens of thousands of pounds have been raised for them through a fundraising campaign.

The compassion of individuals throughout the world has been “absolutely fantastic,” according to organizer Sharon Doyle.

“On behalf of the boys’ families I would like to thank each and everyone of you for your kind heartfelt comments, your donations and your words of love for all four boys and their families,” she wrote.

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