Hundreds of beachgoers have fallen sick after swimming in UK waters, with tourists reporting stomach bugs and ear infections, according to a marine charity. Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) recorded 765 reports of sickness across 406 UK locations since the start of the year, with more than half (322) reported since May 1, as people sought relief from heatwaves by the sea.
Record sickness reports
The affected beaches include several Blue Flag spots, a global award for high water quality and safety. The highest number of reports came from Bournemouth beaches, with 16 people feeling sick after swimming. Croyde Bay in North Devon and Polzeath in Cornwall each had 13 reports, followed by Rest Bay in Porthcawl, Wales, with 12.
Jo Morley, SAS's head of campaigns, accused water companies of 'making us sick' after decades of pumping sewage into open waters. She said it was 'totally unacceptable that people are getting ill in any case, especially after using bathing water rated as excellent.'
Water quality concerns
The Environment Agency has found that just over 14% of England's surface water has good ecological health status, affected by sewage spills, agricultural nutrients, and urban pollutants. The agency urged people to check the Swimfo website for the latest water status before swimming at designated spots, noting that some bacteria can make people unwell.
