The body of a boy has been pulled from a park following a major search operation after reports of a teenager going missing in the water. West Midlands Police said a teenage boy was reported missing in the water at Powell’s Pool in Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, shortly after 6pm on Thursday, July 10.
The boy had been swimming in Powell’s Pool. Specialist officers raced to Sutton Park, one of the largest urban parks in the United Kingdom, as emergency services searched with boats on the water and a helicopter flying over the lake. The whole of Powell’s Pool was cordoned off with police tape to conduct the huge search and rescue operation.
The boy’s body was found not long after.
Fire service rescue crews from Bickenhill and nearby Sutton Coldfield also took part in the desperate search. West Midlands Fire Service confirmed they also arrived just after 6pm.
Witnesses reported two boys had been on a boat on the water.
A shocked golfer told BirminghamLive how he saw the air ambulance and everyone was asked to leave the nearby course after a child was “lost in the water.”
He said: “I was playing golf at Boldmere golf course and saw a police/ambulance helicopter hovering over from 7pm-ish.
“At 8pm police came into the course to cordon off that side and requested everyone leave the course immediately.
“They said that a kid was lost in the water.”
West Midlands Police say the death is not being treated as suspicious at this time and the force is liaising with the coroner.
Speaking late last night, a West Midlands Police spokesperson said: “The body of a teenage boy has been recovered from a pool in Sutton Park, Birmingham, this evening. West Midlands Police are supporting the family of the boy at this tragic time.
“Extensive efforts by all emergency services were carried out following the boy going missing in the water just after 6pm.
“Specialist teams were deployed from fire and rescue, ambulance colleagues, and Birmingham City Council colleagues.”
Spanning 2,000 acres Sutton Park is visited by two million people a year, according to the AA.
