A 1867 skating accident in London led to the draining of park lakes worldwide
A peaceful winter day in 1867 turned into a national tragedy when a frozen lake collapsed, prompting a global redesign of public parks to ensure such a disaster could never happen again.
On January 15, 1867, over 200 people were skating on the frozen boating lake at London's Regent's Park when the ice suddenly shattered. Despite frantic rescue efforts, forty people drowned in the frigid, twelve-foot-deep waters. The event horrified the Victorian public and led to immediate safety reforms.
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