Christchurch Harbour water pollution hospitalises children

Multiple children have been hospitalised following exposure to polluted seawater in Christchurch Harbour, Dorset. Three-year-old Ivy Foster contracted an antibiotic-resistant E. coli infection after paddleboarding in the harbour. The infection, which has affected her kidney, required intravenous antibiotics and fluids, and her family reported fears for her life during the illness.

In a separate incident, eight-year-old Keeva Hollow was hospitalised with a campylobacter infection after swimming at Avon Beach.

Local volunteers from the Christchurch Harbour & Marine Society (Chams) reported extreme pollution levels. Testing conducted in mid-August recorded E. coli levels as high as 370,000 colony forming units (CFUs), significantly exceeding the safety threshold of 1,000 CFUs. Residents have raised concerns regarding the impact of sewage and agricultural runoff from the Stour and Avon rivers into the narrow harbour area.