Warning signs call after tragedy
A teenager thought to have drowned while swimming in a 40ft deep pool was from Burntwood.
Keirian White, 17, got into difficulties while in the pool at Ryders Hayes, Pelsall, on Sunday. He went missing at 8pm. Divers recovered a body just before 2pm yesterday.
Police said this afternoon they were waiting for formal identification.
His family and friends gathered near the water as news of the discovery spread, but were then ushered away from the scene by police.
Insp Justin Spanner, of West Midlands Police, said: "We have found a body in the lake which was recovered by the specialist diving team.
"We believe the body to be that of Keirian White. The death is not being treated as suspicious and the coroner has been informed."
Firefighters and dive crews had spent hours throughout Sunday night and into yesterday morning searching for Keirian.
The fire brigade had despatched its urban search and rescue team, water rescue units and crews of firefighters. Emergency service workers used thermal imaging cameras, dive equipment and other specialist tools and technology in he search.
Generator-powered lights were brought in when darkness fell to aid the search of the lake, estimated to be 40ft at its deepest point and created on the site of a former open-cast mine.
Today people who live near the scene of the tragedy called for better warnings that the water can be dangerous as there are no safety signs or lifesaving buoys.
Ben Sturch, 15, who knew Keirian, said: "I have used the lake to play in lots of times. We always play in the lake when it is nice and hot.
"But there are no warning signs and no lifesaving rings.
"It is very dangerous and I won't be playing in there again."
