MERIDEN and Solihull East MP, Saqib Bhatti, has urged the Education Secretary to ensure the dangers of cold water and open water are included in changes to the national curriculum.
Mr Bhatti has written to Bridget Phillipson MP to ensure that the Government’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill covers the topic in memory of the four boys who died at Babbs Mill Lake in 2022.
Mr Bhatti has taken a personal interest in this campaign following on from the Babbs Mill Lake tragedy.
After going into cold water two brothers, Finlay and Samuel Butler, their cousin, Thomas Stewart, and other boy Jack Johnson, all died after going onto the lake.
In his letter, Mr Bhatti recognised the deep sense of anguish across the community in Kinghurst after the tragic deaths of the boys. At vigils, Saqib expressed the outpouring of grief which was difficult to witness.
According to the inquest into the boys’ death, Dr Sarah Denniston, from Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, found that the boys died from drowning – it is expected that the boys would have gone into shock shortly after going into the freezing water.
Having already raised this issue with the previous Conservative Government, including with former Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, and the former Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, Mr Bhatti has now asked the current Secretary of State whether the Government’s new schools legislation covers these vital areas to prevent more tragedies.
In addition to writing a formal letter to the Education Secretary, the Conservative MP has submitted a Written Parliamentary Question and intends to raise the issue in the House of Commons later this year.
Mr Bhatti said: “The harrowing deaths of Finlay, Samuel, Thomas and Jack at Babbs Mill Lake in December 2022 was beyond devastating and left a gaping hole in the local community.
“Given the recent cold snap across the UK, it’s essential that we learn lessons from this tragedy and do all we can to prevent a similar incident that has left the community of Kingshurst and the wider area heartbroken.
“That’s why I’m seeking to work constructively with the Education Secretary to ensure the Government’s planned changes to the national curriculum cover the dangers of getting into open water, especially in cold weather, so that children across the UK are as safe as they can be when enjoying the great outdoors.”
