At least four children have been rushed to hospital after they fell through ice on a frozen lake in Solihull, with rescue efforts continuing into the evening.
It is understood five children had been playing on the lake, and four of them are now in a critical condition.
Emergency services were called to the scene at Babbs Mill Park in Kingshurst, Solihull amid freezing temperatures and icy conditions.
Eyewitnesses at the scene said the children had been playing near to the lake and onlookers shouted at them to get off the ice just moments before it cracked. It is understood three children tried to help two friends who got into difficulty, only to get into trouble themselves.
The incident is thought to have happened just before 3pm on Sunday. Witnesses described seeing emergency services 'smashing through' the ice on the lake's surface.
West Midlands Police tweeted: 'A number of people have been pulled from a lake and are being transported to hospital.
'They are believed to be in a critical condition.'
Sophie, 23, a mental health support worker, said: 'I got here with my friends at 2.45pm. There were a group of youngsters playing near the lake which was completely iced over.
'Two of them had gone onto the lake and people were shouting at them that it wasn't safe.
'Then the ice cracked and the leg of one of the boys went in. The other three on the bank then went in to help and soon they were all in trouble.'
Describing the rescue efforts, Sophie said she saw four children being pulled from the icy water and transferred to waiting ambulances.
'They stretchered them up the bank to the ambulances waiting. They were giving them CPR as they were moving.'
She added that divers are still searching the lake as one of the children is feared to still be trapped.
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