A group of children were taken ill over the weekend following an afternoon of fun in the river.
With it being a gloriously sunny day, five children from three families decided to jump in the River Bollin in The Carrs and have a swim on Friday, 19th April,
Approximately 36 hours later they started suffering from sickness and diarrhoea.
Sarah Hirst told wilmslow.co.uk "My youngest son, Ralph (10), was very sick for over 12 hours over Easter Sunday and had a terrible day. Both boys went back to bed and could not enjoy their Easter at all.
"Of the six families (13 children) who met at the Carrs on Friday all five of the children who swam in the water (rather than paddled) have been very sick. All were sick after approximately 36 to 50 hours afterwards. The children who did not swim were not sick. The children only met there, did not eat the same things and were not in contact for the rest of the weekend. It was a terrible sickness that made them feel weak and shaky. They all projectile vomited at some point and had diarrhoea too. It is very worrying in a family area."
Camilla Langrick's 9 and 11 year old children were amongst those affected. She said "We had just arrived in Lytham from Yorkshire yesterday on a day out at the beach when my youngest daughter was violently ill all over the car, my other daughter was sick last night. It has ruined a beautiful bank holiday weekend for us. There needs to be more information, signage or something, to warn us of the dangers."
Sarah Hirst added "On researching this it appears this is not an isolated incident and has happened before at this location. This is most concerning and something other families should be aware of as this is a very popular place for children to swim and cool off."
Updated: 12noon 25th April
A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council, said: "We were sorry to hear about these incidences. While people may choose to play or swim in streams and rivers, especially during hot weather, they do so at their own risk.
"The River Bollin, which runs through The Carrs Park, in Wilmslow, is a natural water source and is untreated – it is not suitable for drinking.
"It means that anyone choosing to swim in it is at risk of contracting a gastrointestinal infection, the symptoms of which include vomiting and diarrhoea.
"If you do choose to swim in open water, the advice from Public Health England includes avoiding swallowing the water, showering soon after swimming and washing your hands before eating."
Comments
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Take a small sample of the water in a clean bottle for them.
Believe this is a recent problem. Plenty of children have bathed or paddled in
the river over the years, without incident. Cattle and sheep have also been in fields up stream for years.
Only difference might be the increasing numbers of new housing along the watershed. Run off from gardens - fertilisers and weedkillers spring to mind.
Wildlife in and along the river have definitely reduced or disappeared.
I avoid paddling after heavy rain due to run off concerns, but these illnesses were during a dry period. It happens regularly now.
If it happens to you or your family (or has happened before) please tell this website so we can start to build up evidence of a pattern.
When I was involved with Friends of the Carr’s I objected to the council putting stepping stones in this part of the river as I felt it was not safe enough. My main concern was risk of drowning, but it turns out that the river water quality may be a significant risk too.
At the time, we asked Cheshire East Environmental Health to put a warning sign around the area in The Carrs, where young families are known to bathe in the river. It fell on deaf ears.
My kids and their friends won't be paddling in the Bollin again, but sadly each year many children fall foul of this polluted stretch of river, at a time when they are enjoying the school holidays and warm weather.
Whenever I see the river full of children in sunny weather I shudder as to what they might be in contact with in there.
Maybe a sign would help but you only need to look and smell to know that water isn't clean - and look at all the dogs that go in and out of it. It's really not somewhere to swim or even paddle, it doesn't make sense to me that anyone does this or allows their kids to do it.
Whilst the rush for the laminator is commendable, I’d ask where does it end?
It’s about time people took more responsibility for their own safety and well-being and stopped trying to ascribe responsibility to others. If we continue on that route we can wave goodbye to access to anything unless sanctioned by “The Authorities.” As an example can I offer the fenced-off Lindow Common?
My Wife and I walk for the papers by the Unicorn on Dene Row.
Almost every day we or I see at least 2 large tanker wagons, full of sludge or whatever, going to Knutsford Sewage farm or the Alderley Edge one, from Prestbury
I wrote them re this, and it is patently obvious Prestbury one is overloaded, and probably the Wilmslow one as well, as, if your memory is good, several years ago, a vehicle knocked down part of the exit near Twinnies Bridge. Also do not forgot, how much money has not been spent on services during the last few years?
I was on the Friends of the Carrs committee when the funding for the extra benches and bbq pits was discussed. Infection was not discussed by the council representative or the members. We did not know about the infection risk at the time. All this can be reconsidered, but in the interim, I will put up a couple of small temporary notices to help people make an informed decision.
People do not know where the sewage works are and many people come from outside the area to use this lovely spot. You can't reasonably expect everyone to know about water quality - they need to be informed.
I have a young family and am grateful to this website and those who shared their stories and concerns for raising this issue. The family affected are letting others know and calling for notices because they don't want others to suffer, not because they are blaming others.
People do not need lectures on parenting or told what to do, but they generally want information.
Action: I have now put up posters at both paddling areas in the Carrs advising of the risk and precautions. The CEC response only deals with swimming. I know people who have contracted the sickness from paddling briefly. From the people I spoke to this morning about a third knew of the risks. These tended to be older people.
Concern: Many were also worried about the impacts on the health of their dogs from the water and a council worker informed me there have been a number of dogs drown in the fast running stretch at the Twinnies Bridge. Also I have been informed about a few near misses where dogs have had to be rescued.
Planned Action: I will put up a couple of temporary warning posters about the risk of drowning too at the Twinnies bridge. I have been informed that a child drowned here to but don't have information on this. Can anyone verify please?
I am in the process of notifying the local schools and nurseries about the infection risk today. If any readers are on local facebook groups I would be grateful if you could share this article too.
This is non political. So if any councillors, candidates or activists from other parties wish to help please join in. You can let me or everyone know what you have done via twitter or this site so we don't double up. All help gratefully received and acknowledged. @oliverromain70 on twitter to contact.
In the long run we need to think if the picnic benches etc should be moved or a permanent warning sign installed. I will speak to Friends of the Carrs to discuss how the community responds.
I didn't see any trolls under the bridge this morning but maybe we could arrange for a local troll to give up their important internet work and sit under the bridge scaring the children away. ;-)
A member of the public has removed the signs including the missing pets ones. Very frustrating. It’s the young families who don’t know who will suffer if there is no information to help them choose.
This works appears to be related to the some treating treating but mostly the pumping of freshwater rather than the treatment of waste.
Some information about the original works, that appears to have been on the west side of Manchester Road, can be found here: https://flic.kr/p/fGSYWT
The weir in the River Bollin that happens to be adjacent to the current works would appear to be for the Environmental Agency river flow measurements.
See: https://nrfa.ceh.ac.uk/data/station/info/69012
And: https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/station/5153?direction=u
I’m now waiting for one of my other daughters and their friends to begin.
The sad thing is that we saw the small biohazard warning only AFTER paddling - when we put the rubbish from our picnic into the bin.... I so wish there’d been a warning notice in easy view for families who walk between the car park up and the pebbly beach Shown above (we didn’t cross the bridge so didn’t see the notice there til afterwards too - but thank you to whoever put them up because at least we know what it is that’s making them sick).
Today is the first day of our holiday weekend at Centerparcs which my littlest one was really looking forward to. It’s terribly sad she’s now so ill and won’t be able to enjoy any of it.
We’d never have let them paddle if a notice had been easily visible near the spot. Ironically we didn’t see the bin because we were so focused on keeping them safe paddling in the water.
I’d hate for other little ones to experience what my two year old is going through now.
Could the Council or Friends possibly make the notice easier to spot?
Thanking you in advance.