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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Neal Keeling & Chiara Fiorillo

Schoolboy, 11, falls through ice after being thrown onto frozen pond by another pupil

A schoolboy fell through the ice after being thrown into a frozen pond by another pupil.

The 11-year-old was allegedly pushed into the pond in Alexandra Park, Manchester, after refusing to walk over the ice for £20.

The victim was walking home from William Hulme Grammar School in Whalley Range on Monday when the incident happened, just one day after the Solihull lake tragedy in which four boys died.

The boy and a friend stopped to skim stones across a frozen duck pond when a 16-year-old pupil from the same school dared him to walk across the ice.

After the boy refused, he was allegedly thrown over the fence and struggled to get out of the pond while the older pupil "stood there laughing".

The boy was walking home from school when the incident happened on Monday (MEN MEDIA)

The victim's father said: "A year 11 pupil, aged 16, from his school came up to them. He dared my son to walk across the ice on the pond, and offered him £20 to do so. He refused."

"The boy then picked up my son and threw him over the fence surrounding the pond. He tumbled down a steep bank onto the frozen ice.

"As he stood up the ice started creaking and he went through it. The freezing water was up to his belly button. The pupil who did it just stood there laughing with a group of his mates and walked off. My son's friend was screaming for help.

"My son eventually managed to climb out and make his way home. When he came home and told me what had happened we returned to the school and found the boy inside the office talking to a teacher as if nothing had happened.

"I cannot believe that he could show no remorse and leave by son in that situation. The pond is deeper further in and the outcome could have been far worse."

The 11-year-old boy had refused to walk on the ice for £20 (Vincent Cole - Manchester Evening News)

The father took his son back to the school and spoke to staff who reported the incident to Greater Manchester Police.

A GMP officer has spoken to the father, who said: "They explained that actions by the school took precedent over any criminal investigation.

"I have since spoken to the Principal at the school, who has told me the boy in question will not be returning to the school, and that they have imposed the highest possible sanction.

"I do believe that this incident was influence by the tragedy in Solihull. I would urge all paents to tell their children not to go anywhere near frozen lakes. I am pleased the school has taken action. My son has gone back to school but he was shaken up by what happened."

The Manchester grammar school sanctioned the older pupil (Manchester Evening News)

A spokesperson for William Hulme Grammar School said: "We are aware of an incident which took place outside of school involving two of our students. Whilst we would never comment on individuals, this has been taken very seriously and dealt with appropriately in line with school policies."

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "GMP spoke to the father and he has stated he is happy for the school to deal with the incident."

Yesterday, the four boys aged six to 11 who tragically died after falling into a frozen lake in Solihull were pictured.

Brothers Samuel, six, and eight-year-old Finlay Butler both perished along with their 11-year-old cousin Thomas Stewart and hero Jack, who ran in to try and save the youngsters at Babbs Mill nature reserve in Solihull on Sunday afternoon.

A father of one of the children, a dog walker and a student police officer also waded into the icy water in a desperate attempt to rescue them.

Finlay, Samuel and Thomas' family has now paid tribute to their "beautiful boys", saying they are "devastated" at their loss.

Thomas' older brother also remembered his sibling as a "lively little soul" and cousin "who loved dinosaurs so much" ahead of the sad news yesterday that Sam had died.

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