Home / Environment / Lake Contamination: Child nearly dies from E. coli
Lake Contamination: Child nearly dies from E. coli
16 Mar
Summary
- A seven-year-old boy contracted E. coli from Windermere lake.
- He spent six weeks in hospital with life-threatening complications.
- Campaigners demand urgent realtime pollution alerts for the lake.
A family kayaking trip on Windermere lake resulted in a seven-year-old boy contracting a severe E. coli infection, leading to a six-week hospital stay and two emergency surgeries. The boy, Rex, developed Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) after kayaking on the lake last August, a situation his mother described as traumatizing. Independent water quality tests conducted shortly before the incident revealed E. coli levels significantly exceeding safety thresholds, despite the Environment Agency rating Windermere's bathing waters as 'excellent'.
Campaigners are now demanding realtime pollution alerts across Windermere, arguing that the current bathing water status is misleading and insufficient, especially for areas away from designated testing sites. Another individual, Graham Jackson, also fell seriously ill after swimming in the lake last June with an antibiotic-resistant E. coli strain that led to life-threatening sepsis. These cases underscore ongoing concerns about sewage discharges from various sources impacting the lake's water quality.
United Utilities is undertaking a significant investment of £200 million over the next four years to improve wastewater infrastructure around Windermere, aiming to reduce spills and enhance treatment. An engineering study examining ways to eliminate all sewage pollution is also underway and expected to report soon. Environmental groups urge the government to implement the study's recommendations promptly to prevent future health risks on the heavily visited lake.
