00:00 One thing that struck us as a service after this incident was just how much it affected
00:09 the local crews and those that attended that incident.
00:12 And, you know, when you see the news footage after the incident of crews laying flowers
00:17 down at the makeshift memorial by Babs Mill Lake in the days after the incident, we didn't
00:25 tell them as a service to do that.
00:27 There was no expectation on them to do that.
00:29 That was driven locally by crews who, you know, wanted to pay their respects.
00:35 A whole year has passed for this place and the people in it.
00:39 365 days since misfortune befell Little Finn, Sam, Tom and Jack.
00:44 But their loss is still keenly felt.
00:47 For the close-knit community of Kingshurst, the wound may never fully heal.
00:51 And a year on, is the community still as profoundly affected as the day it happened?
00:55 Well I think, yes, the community is still affected.
00:58 I mean, this is something you cannot forget.
01:00 And especially for those who are very close to the families, those who know them, of course
01:06 they are very much affected.
01:08 Other people are probably affected and then moved on, life moves on.
01:13 But indeed, you know, a tragedy like that you cannot forget.
01:16 And people are still affected.
01:17 People are still talking.
01:18 Some people are still talking about it.
01:19 Why did this particular tragedy resonate with so many people?
01:23 And what can we learn from what happened a year ago?
01:26 Because Kingshurst was my first home, I was a toddler here.
01:29 I mean, you know, it's such a beautiful lake, isn't it?
01:31 It's a place that people, children are going to come to play.
01:34 It could have happened to anybody.
01:37 As we look back a year on, since the boys fell into the lake and later lost their lives,
01:42 emergency services are keen to not only remember the tragedy, but share a public safety message
01:48 to try to ensure other families avoid the heartache felt here in Kingshurst.
01:54 We offer advice around what you do if you fall through the ice, you know, which is around,
01:58 you know, trying not to panic, although I appreciate that would be very difficult, conserving
02:03 energy but also calling out for help.
02:06 However, what we've got to be realistic about, though, is that even if you are to do all
02:10 of those things, it doesn't necessarily mean it's going to work.
02:14 The best thing to do is to think twice and stay off the ice.
02:18 If you don't go onto the ice, it's not going to pose you a problem.
02:22 If you see somebody in distress, not to go onto the frozen lake or waterway to try and
02:28 rescue them or help them, because that potentially is going to result in yourself going through
02:33 the ice as well.
02:34 It's to call 999 and ask for the fire service.
02:38 Here as you can see by this plaque dedicated to the Babs Mill boys, people continue to
02:43 leave gifts, flowers and other tributes to this day.
02:47 Time may indeed continue to pass, but for the families involved, things will never quite
02:52 be the same.
02:53 These boys may be lost, but Finlay Butler, Samuel Butler, Thomas Stewart and Jack Johnson
02:59 won't be forgotten.
03:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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