Police hunt teens spotted on frozen Doncaster pond hours after Solihull tragedy

Emergency services descended on Shaftholme yesterday lunchtime after the pair were spotted on the ice.

It came less than 24 hours after the death of three boys aged eight, 10 and 11 at a beauty spot in the West Midlands on Sunday afternoon.

When police arrived, the pair ran off and officers were unable to locate them.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Area Manager Matt Gillatt, head of the joint police and fire community safety department said: “Fortunately, no one was harmed in this incident but it could have turned out very differently.

“Our advice is to stay away from any open water which isn’t overseen by a lifeguard, unless you are with an organised swimming group.

"At this time of year, and particularly during this period of cold weather, avoid standing on iced over bodies of water. You don’t know how thick the ice is or how deep the water is below and you could get into serious difficulty if you fall in.”

Crews were called at around 12.45pm to Shaftholme Road, Arksey, to reports of concern for the safety of two individuals, a police spokesman said.

The statement added: “It is understood that the two, who are thought to have been teenagers, were on ice over a body of water.

“Both our officers and those from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue attended the site and the individuals ran off. Despite an area search they were not located.”

Four fire engines were also called after the two males were seen trying to crack the ice on a lake, approximately 25 metres away from the water’s edge.

On arrival, there was no visible cracked ice in the lake and the two males were reported to have run away from the scene into a wooded area nearby.

Crews had left the incident by 1.48pm.

It comes after the tragedy at Babbs Mills Lake which claimed three young lives. A fourth boy, aged six, remains in a critical condition.