Christchurch Harbour water quality concerns rise after two girls fall ill

Two young girls have been hospitalized after contracting serious water-borne diseases from swimming in Christchurch Harbour, a popular water-sports area in Dorset. Three-year-old Ivy Foster and eight-year-old Keeva Hollow fell ill following routine trips to local beaches.

Ivy Foster developed high levels of E. coli, a bacterium found in faeces, which proved resistant to multiple rounds of antibiotics. Her family reported noticing a “horrendous smell” while paddle-boarding at Mudeford Quay before she became unwell with abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever.

Keeva Hollow was also hospitalized with a bacterial infection after swimming off Avon Beach. Local residents have long expressed concerns regarding the water quality in the area, which has been colloquially referred to as the “toilet bowl of Bournemouth.”