Rescuer tells of ice lake horror

Rescuers who tried to save three brothers after they plunged through ice on a frozen lake have spoken of their efforts to pull the group to safety.

Sam Trewick and Adam Whitehead were sledging near the lake at Watermead Country Park near Leicester on Friday.

After seeing a man escape from the ice the pair saw three others in the water and "everyone was screaming".

Two men died in the incident after the group of four brothers walked about 30m out on to the frozen lake.

Rescuer Sam Trewick said it was a dangerous situation he and Mr Whitehead faced, but they felt they had to try to save the men.

There were two other people face down in the water

Rescuer Sam Trewick

Mr Trewick said: "We were on the hill, sledging and saw a man running off the ice - everyone was screaming.

"We looked in the water and there appeared to be another man in the water.

"I, luckily, had a rope in the boot of my car.

"We've gone over to the ice and managed to get one of the blokes out - and there were two other people face down in the water.

"There was no way we could have got to them without putting ourselves in danger.

"So, we managed to get him (the first man) out and the emergency services took over."

Air ambulance

Police are investigating the deaths of the two brothers who fell into a frozen lake.

The men, aged in their 40s or 50s, were pulled from the lake along with another brother on Friday.

Det Ch Insp Simon Hurst said initial reports said four men had gone through the ice but it was later established that three men entered the water.

Officers are investigating why the men had gone on to the ice.

On Friday afternoon officers from Leicestershire Police were called, along with the fire service, paramedics, the air ambulance, and the East Midlands Air Support Unit.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Hurst said: "The initial reports were that four men had gone through the ice. It has now been established that three men entered the water.

"Two subsequently died. The third was treated and discharged."