Published: 12:47 BST, 27 August 2026 | Updated: 14:35 BST, 27 August 2026
Two children have been hospitalised after playing in a Bournemouth river that's teeming with deadly E. coli.
A woman was also left 'desperately poorly' after coming into contact with the water at Christchurch Harbour in Bournemouth.
Members of the Christchurch Harbour & Marine Society (CHAMS), a group of volunteers who monitor the water quality, fear others have also fallen ill.
Testing shows E. coli levels in the River Stour peaked in mid August, and remain at unsafe levels.
The pathogen – which typically causes diarrhoea, abdominal pain and fever – can be spread through contaminated water, with faeces a major source of such contamination.
E. coli levels for safe swimming are supposed to be at no more than 1,000 Colony Forming Units per 100 milliliters, according to the Environment Agency.
But Martin Stewart, chair of the CHAMS, said readings hit 370,000 on August 19. 'We aren’t sure where it has come from, but clearly something has happened and whatever it is is a scandal,' he said.
Testing shows E. coli levels in the River Stour in Bournemouth peaked in mid August, and remain at unsafe levels
'I am being fed details of cases of illness where people have been in the water and ending up in Bournemouth Hospital. It's a serious situation.'
It has been reported the two children who have been hospitalised with the infection were in contact with the water in the harbour shortly before falling ill.
One child has a cut on their foot, The Sun reported – which could have acted as an entry point for the bacteria, allowing infection to develop. In rare cases, bacteria can spread into the bloodstream, resulting in sepsis.
Mr Stewart added another woman, a member of a local rowing club, had approached the society alleging she became unwell after being in contact with the water, but she has now recovered. Christchurch Sailing Club has cancelled its on-water events over the scare.
In the majority of E. coli cases symptoms fade naturally within days. However, for vulnerable populations, the infection can get into the blood and travel to the organs, causing catastrophic damage.
Large amounts of rain water can cause an increase in the presence of bacteria such as E. coli because of the UK's water laws
