'It's just awful' - Tragic death of boy in Sutton Park lake leaves residents and visitors devastated and disappointed
The death of a teenager in a Sutton Park lake has left residents and visitors of the park saddened at the loss of a young life and disappointed at how such an accident.
The scene around Powells Pool on a hot Friday morning was a quiet one, with dog walkers walking along the shore of the lake, one of the biggest of the seven lakes at Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield.
However, the scene just 12 hours earlier had been very different, with specialist teams deployed from West Midlands Fire Service, West Midlands Ambulance Service and Birmingham Council searching the water for a teenage boy reported missing just after 6pm.
After an extensive search, the body of the boy was found, but despite the best efforts of the crews at the scene, he was declared dead.
Members of Birmingham Council could be seen putting up metal barriers around the edges of the Pool on Friday morning, while the rest of the area was full of dog walkers and people taking in the summer sunshine.
Despite seeming like a normal day, those attending the area were still taking in the news of the death of a teenage boy, as well as talking about how it could happen in such a large area of water.
One man who was fishing at the Pool said he was saddened about it, but also said that he felt that there was a feeling of inevitability about an incident like this happening.
He said: "The first I heard of it was when I came down here early this morning and met a friend who told me that the park had been closed off earlier, then he told me what had happened.
"It's awful to hear that someone has died after drowning in the water because they're so young, but it's seemed like something like this was going to happen as people seem to ignore the signs telling them not to swim here.
"I've seen some people who've swum in the water, but have worn flotation devices and other protective things, so I don't know what to say about this death other than it's just awful."
Another man, who asked not to be named, was out walking his dog and said he was just devastated about the death as it felt very close to home.
He said: "I've got grandchildren myself who live locally and they come down to this park, so to hear about someone their age dying is just devastating.
"I know that if you go all the way around this park, there's a little beach, and I've seen loads of people go down in groups and go out swimming as far as the boat you can see in the water.
"I just think that people have to realise that the water is unsafe and you shouldn't go in, every if the weather is as nice as it is."
Terry Miller was out walking his dog and said he had feared something like what had happened because of the risks he felt people were taking.
He said: "I've seen them out there before, swimming in the water and even standing on the ice when it freezes and, sadly, this incident speaks for itself.
"There's enough warnings out there and news stories telling people not to go into open water, so I just think it's really sad that a kid has died because of going into the water."
Jon Robertson was also out walking his dog along the land near the Pool and said he was still dealing with the shock of what had happened.
He said: "I'm just shocked and surprised about this and I don't know how it would have happened.
"I can only think that there might have been something unexpected under the water that might have taken them by surprise, but it's just shocking and such an unfortunate thing to happen to such a young life as well.
"It does show the dangers of open water swimming as well and the thing is that people are going to be attracted to a huge and beautiful lake, and there's only one small sign that tells people not to get into the water."