An eight-year-old boy, Joshua Hillstead, from Maypole, Birmingham, has tragically died after reportedly falling into the River Arrow in Alcester, Warwickshire. Joshua was pulled from the river on Monday evening and received specialist trauma care at the scene before being taken to Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Despite medical efforts, he passed away on Tuesday evening.
Warwickshire Police confirmed the incident, with Detective Inspector Heidi Twynham offering condolences to Joshua’s family. “Losing a child is devastating, and we offer our condolences to the family after this tragic accident,” she said.
The emergency services, including the fire and ambulance services, were called to the scene behind Kingfisher Way at 21:30 BST on Monday. West Midlands Ambulance Service reported that Joshua was in a serious condition upon their arrival. A girl was also rescued from the water and was assessed and discharged after receiving first aid.
The police are providing support to Joshua’s family and have noted that his death resulted from complications following the accident. Det Insp Twynham emphasized the dangers of rivers, particularly for children and non-confident swimmers, citing fast, unpredictable currents and deeper sections that are not visible.
In related news, Joshua’s death was announced within minutes of a separate incident involving a 16-year-old boy found after a search of a reservoir near Dudley.
An online fundraising page has been set up to support Joshua’s family during this difficult time.