Pictured: Boy, eight, who died after he fell into the River Arrow
An eight-year-old boy who ‘died in his dad’s arms’ after being pulled from the River Arrow has been pictured.
Joshua Hillstead, from Maypole, Birmingham, died following complications resulting from drowning after being pulled from the river in Alcester, Warwickshire Police said.
Police were called to a report of a young child who had fallen into the river behind Kingfisher Way at around 9.30pm on Monday.
Police, fire and ambulance services attended and Joshua was pulled from the river before receiving first aid and CPR.
One other child was also in the water but did not require further treatment and was returned home. Joshua was taken to hospital for treatment but died late on Tuesday.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Joshua’s grieving family by a close friend.
The accompanying post reads: ‘The eight-year-old passed away last night in his dad’s arms 23/7/24 in Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Joshua Hillstead, eight, died following complications resulting from drowning after falling in the river
The child died from drowning after being pulled from the river in Alcester, Warwickshire Police said
‘As a friend of the family, I have spoken to Josh’s Dad and I want to give them help, so they do not have to worry about anything whilst they are going through this horrendous tragedy.
Detective Inspector Heidi Twynham said: ‘Losing a child is devastating, and we offer our condolences to the family after this tragic accident – we are liaising with the family to provide support.
‘Fast, unpredictable currents and invisible deeper sections make rivers dangerous places, particularly for children and non-confident swimmers. Please take caution around our waterways.
‘Thank you to our officers, members of the emergency services, and the hospital staff for everything you’ve done over the past few days.’
A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: ‘We were called to reports of patients in the water near Kingfisher Way at 9.32pm, three ambulances, two paramedic officers, a Hazardous Area Response Team paramedic, a community first responder and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance Critical Care Car attended the scene.
‘On arrival, we found two patients who were already out of the water and needed medical treatment.
‘A boy was in a serious condition and received specialist trauma care at the scene before being taken to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
‘The second patient, a girl, was assessed and discharged at the scene.’
The tragedy came just hours before a 16-year-old boy drowned in nearby Netherton reservoir.
