Solihull lake-death vigil gathers hundreds of people

• Hundreds of mourners, some in tears, gathered to honor the victims.
• 10-year-olds . Jack Johnson, 8-year-old Finlay Butler, 11-year-old died Sunday.
• An inquest into their deaths is scheduled to begin on Monday morning.

Four youngsters who died after falling into a frozen lake have had a vigil organized in their honor. At Babbs Mill Park in Kingshurst, West Midlands, hundreds of mourners, some in tears, gathered to honour the victims.

Following a two-minute period of silence during which tributes were left, a choir performed and there was clapping.

On Sunday, Jack Johnson, 10, Finlay Butler, 8, and their relative Thomas Stewart, 11, passed away in a hospital. Samuel Butler, Finlay’s younger brother, passed away on Wednesday.

Many people who attended the vigil said it made them consider the kids in their own households.

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.”

More than £66,000 has been raised for the boys’ families through an internet fundraising website.

At Saturday’s and Friday night’s football games, tributes to the boys were also made.

An inquest investigating the deaths of the four boys is scheduled to begin on Monday morning.

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