Three beaches across Tenerife have been forced to close after raw sewage was discovered, as a paediatrician warns that swimming in the Canary Islands has "never been as dangerous" as it is this year.
Swimming has been prohibited at Playa de El Médano in Granadilla de Abona, Playa del Socorro in Los Realejos and Playa Jardín in Puerto de la Cruz owing to "excessively high bacterial levels."
Doctor's warning on faecal contamination
Italian-born paediatrician Dr Federico Gentile said that overflow from sewage farms has become a serious issue on the holiday hotspot's beaches. He said: "Faecal discharges—in other words, poop—are polluting our seas. Going for a swim has become a game of Russian roulette."
He added: "Going for a swim in the sea has never been as dangerous as it is this year."
In a clip shared on his Instagram profile, the doctor explained: "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."
Health risks to children
Dr Gentile revealed that youngsters have been arriving at his surgery suffering from various health problems connected to bathing in polluted waters: "Acute gastroenteritis, vomiting, and dehydration – which is far more serious in infants – as well as conjunctivitis, ear infections, and dermatitis."
He emphasises that "a child is not just a small adult. They become dehydrated and their kidneys suffer much more quickly", which is why he remains firm: "This is not about causing alarm, it is about providing information and demanding solutions. Safe bathing is a public health right."
Residents report illnesses
Local news outlet Teneriffa News has established an online database which shows the latest sample results for every beach across the Canary Islands.
A number of residents have reported that they, and in some instances their pets, have fallen seriously ill after taking a dip in contaminated 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 commenter revealed they had abandoned trips to the seaside altogether: "In June, I took my little one to the paediatrician and mentioned that beach season was starting."
"The doctor looked at me and said, '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.'"
"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 also voiced their frustration, stating: "My dog became critically ill after swallowing water at the dog-friendly beach in El Puertito de Güímar; neither humans nor animals are spared."
