Families heading to the Canary Islands this half-term have been warned that swimming in the sea there has "never been as dangerous as it is this year", with dozens reporting illnesses after bathing in sewage-polluted waters.
Italian-born paediatrician Dr Federico Gentile has described going for a swim in the islands as "a game of Russian roulette". In a video posted to his Instagram account, he said: "Going for a swim in the sea has never been as dangerous as it is this year."
Beach closures due to faecal contamination
The doctor said: "We have seen beach closures due to faecal contamination for months - Leocadio Machado, La Jaquita, Playa Jardín... and this isn't an isolated incident; it's a structural problem. As a paediatrician, I see it every day in my practice."
He reported seeing children in his surgery with ailments linked to swimming in contaminated water, including "acute gastroenteritis, vomiting, and dehydration – which is far more serious in infants – as well as conjunctivitis, ear infections, and dermatitis."
Health risks for children
Dr Gentile stressed that "a child is not just a small adult. They become dehydrated and their kidneys suffer much more quickly." He added: "This is not about causing alarm, it is about providing information and demanding solutions. Safe bathing is a public health right."
This week alone, three beaches on Tenerife were closed after raw sewage was detected. Swimming was banned at Playa de El Médano in Granadilla de Abona, Playa del Socorro in Los Realejos and Playa Jardín in Puerto de la Cruz due to "excessively high bacterial levels."
Local complaints and database
Local news outlet Teneriffa News has set up an online database showing the most recent sample for each beach in the Canary Islands. Several locals have complained that they, and in some cases their pets, became severely unwell after swimming in sewage-tainted seawater.
One wrote: "I don't want to take my son to the beach in the summer anymore; I'm always afraid now. The last three times, he had diarrhoea the next day." Another said they had given up on beach days, recalling a paediatrician's advice: "The little one is one year old and the other is seven; the beach is very dirty... they're going to get sick; try to avoid it."
The parent added: "I took her advice, bought a small kiddie pool, and that's how we spent the summer. All their friends got sick, and I felt so sad about it. The sea was a wonderful joy that has been stolen from us." One pet-owner complained: "My dog became critically ill after swallowing water at the dog-friendly beach in El Puertito de Güímar; neither humans nor animals are spared."
