Boy dies after being pulled from canal in Wolverhampton

A boy has died after being pulled from a canal by police in Wolverhampton .

Paramedics were called at 6pm on Sunday to a stretch of the Old Main Line canal passing through Ettingshall, in the southeast of the city.

The first of two ambulances arrived in three minutes to find that a boy had been pulled out of the water near Hendon Avenue by police officers and was in a critical condition, the West Midlands Ambulance Service said.

The boy received advanced life support but was pronounced dead at the scene, the service said.

Police had urged people to avoid the area on Sunday evening as they responded to “reports of a person in the water”.

Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, a trauma doctor and critical care paramedic were all called to the canal.

In its statement, the ambulance service said: “On arrival, crews found a boy, who had been pulled from the water by police colleagues, in a critical condition.

“He was receiving basic life support by officers and ambulance staff immediately took over to administer advanced life support.

“Sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, the child could not be saved and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”

The Independent has approached West Midlands Police for more information.

It came as temperatures in Wolverhampton reached 28C on Sunday evening.

According to the National Water Safety Forum, there were 236 water-related deaths in the UK last year, with fatalities typically coinciding with periods of warmer weather.

The RNLI and Met Office issued warnings last month urging people to beware of the dangers of open water, after a week in which at least two boys died, including eight-year-old Joshua Hillstead, who was pulled from the River Arrow, Warwickshire, and a 16-year-old who was found in Lodge Farm Reservoir in Dudley.

Sam Hughes, water safety manager at the RNLI, said: “If you do find yourself in difficulty, remember float to live: tilt your head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing.

“Use your hands to help you stay afloat and then, once you are through the initial shock, call for help or swim to safety if you can.”

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