A MAN who contracted a bacterial infection after swimming in the sea near Bude has spoken out as part of a campaign calling for a Clean Water Bill to be implemented.

As the summer holidays come to a close, new data from campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) reveals that water companies dumped sewage into England’s waters for over 43,000 hours during July and August. Of which, over 2,000 hours, the equivalent of two and a half months, poured into the country’s designated bathing waters enjoyed by families across the country.

It’s only during heavy rainfall that England’s water companies are permitted to spill sewage into rivers and seas through storm overflows. However, across the three heatwaves between May and August, sewage spilled into bathing waters for nearly 14,000 hours.

Across the August Bank Holiday alone, sewage was discharged into bathing waters for the equivalent of 34 days, triggering sewage alerts at 105 locations in England.

The charity received 636 sickness reports from people who said they became sick after swimming in the nation’s rivers, lakes and seas during July and August, including cases of gastroenteritis, skin, ear and eye infections and, in some severe cases, hospitalisations.

Among those who reported illness was 80-year-old Les Sheard, who contracted a bacterial infection after swimming at Sandymouth Beach back in July.

Commenting on his experience, Les said: "I spent about an hour swimming in the sea at Sandymouth Beach in July. A few days later, I developed uncontrolled diarrhoea, along with dehydration, nausea and a feeling of being completely washed out. My illness lasted more than a week. My wife was with me on the beach but didn't swim, and we'd eaten the same food throughout, so food poisoning was ruled out. When my stool sample results came back, my doctor identified campylobacter and asked about my recent activities. On hearing I'd been swimming in the sea, he told me that was the likely cause, saying it had almost certainly come from the water.”

In response to continued pollution, SAS has brought its campaign directly to the Prime Minister, delivering a petition with over 330,000 signatures to No. 10 Downing Street and demanding an ambitious Clean Water Bill.

The charity is calling on the government to use the Bill to accelerate legislation that will transform the water industry by taking back control of failing water companies and removing the profit motive.

Cornwall-based British Champion surfer and SAS Ambassador, Ocearna Peres has also explained how sewage impacts her.

She said "Sewage has had a massive impact on me as a surfer. There have been multiple times when I've gotten ill from surfing, and I've then been unable to surf for weeks afterwards because I was so unwell. I think it's completely unacceptable that sewage is being discharged at all, but even more so in summer, when the most people are in the water. The ocean should be a safe place for everyone to enjoy.”