Havering Fire Chief issues warning not to let children play on frozen rivers or lakes.

Havering’s London Fire Brigade Chief Paul Mc Clenaghan has issued a warning not to let children play on frozen water following the awful tragedy that took place at Solihull lake where three children died falling through ice.

Borough Commander Paul has warned parents to please keep children away from frozen water and not to let them play on lakes or rivers.

The fire chief told the Havering Daily: “Lakes and rivers look frozen over with ice, but they are not safe to walk on. Please do not even attempt to walk across frozen rivers or lakes. The water levels can be extremely unpredictable, it may look like ice on top, but underneath the water is not frozen.

“I advise parents to not let their children play on any form of frozen water, please keep them and pets away whenever possible.

“The conditions can be extremely dangerous and if you fall in, you can suffer cardiac shock or hypothermia.”

With schools closed for the last two days due to the cold weather we are currently experiencing, Paul is please urging parents to keep children away from any form of frozen water.

“Water can be very treacherous and deceiving, frozen rivers may look very nice but they are not safe to walk on, please do not walk across frozen water.

“If an incident happens, I urge people to call us straight away.”