SEVERAL people, including children, have fallen violently ill after swimming in allegedly contaminated water at a popular country park.
People reportedly began throwing up after developing stomach bugs days or even hours after cooling off in the water at Southwater Country Park, West Sussex.
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The beach has been closed as health officials probe the reports Credit: Eddie Mitchell
Locals have reported seeing rats around the country park Credit: Eddie Mitchell
The popular attraction features a large lake and beach which is often used for water sports and swimming.
Despite several signs being in place to warn people away from swimming, the lake is still used by locals to cool off on hot days.
Councillor Alex Jeffery has since raised the issue with the local authority after receiving dozens of reports from locals of people becoming sick after entering the water.
Some reports indicate people have been hospitalised after becoming so unwell they called ambulances.
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Posting to social media Councillor Jeffery said: “While the exact cause is not yet known, I have asked Council officers to urgently consider temporarily closing the paddling beach area until we can be confident that the water is safe.
“Protecting public health must remain the Council’s absolute priority.
“I understand this will be concerning for many residents and families, and I will continue to press for answers and provide further updates as soon as more information becomes available.”
Other reports indicate a large rat population present on the banks of the lake – with locals warning each other away from the park after spotting the critters scurrying around.
Despite the warnings, people continue to flock to the beach area of the country park today.
One parent told The Jattvibe that dozens of young children were showing up this afternoon with the local schools on an inset day.
Nicole Padayachy, 34, went down to the waterside today with her autistic daughter, hoping to cool off in the lake.
But a local warned her away from the water, saying several people had reportedly become seriously unwell after swimming in the lake.
Nicole quickly told her child to get out of the water, she said, before warning others away.
She told The Jattvibe: “I can’t take risks like that. I’ve got Crohn’s disease, you know what I mean, and my little girl’s got autism.
“I can’t afford to take them sort of risks. If I knew, we wouldn’t have come.
“The beach was open, but no one was on it. We thought, oh, lovely, we’ll have the beach to ourselves…”
When Nicole was warned away from the water, she said: “I got the children out. I said, ‘Get out, get out. You don’t want the children getting ill.
“There’s not a sign in the car park. There’s not a sign anywhere.
“There’s still people going in there now, but I can’t stand there all day warning people.”
The paddling beach has since been closed as the local authority probes the incidents of illness.
While the local authority investigates the issue, councillor Jeffrey is asking anyone affected to get in touch with him immediately.
A Horsham District Council spokesperson said: “Horsham District Council is aware of reports online stating that a number of individuals have experienced illness, potentially as a result of entering the water at the Paddling Beach at Southwater Country Park.
“Currently the Council’s Environmental Health team has not received any official notifications of illness or infection from the UK Health Security Agency (formerly Public Health England) or any regular user groups at this time.
“As a precautionary measure the Paddling Beach will be closed while we monitor the situation. We will release further information if the situation changes.”
