 At least 57 triathletes were struck with diarrhoea and vomiting after they swam in Sunderland. Their swim was off the city's Roker Beach, as part of the UK leg of the World Triathlon Championship series last weekend. This stretch of coastline has been at the centre of a long-running dispute over sewage discharges between environmental campaigners and the Government. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed the athletes had fallen ill, adding a questionnaire had been sent out to those with symptoms, asking for samples to determine the cause. Environment Agency sampling at the beach in late July detected 39 times the amount of e-coli found in the water during typical readings – E-coli is a bacterial infection that can cause stomach pain and bloody diarrhoea. The governing body for UK triathlons, British Triathlon, said those results were not published until after the weekend's events and were outside the body of the water where its competitions took place. It added its own testing results passed the required standards for the event. The mixed relay event on day two of the 2023 World Triathlon Series event at Roker Beach on July 30 (Picture: PA) Athletes compete in the Elite Women's race during the World Triathlon Series at Roker Beach on July 29 (Picture: Getty) Australian triathlete Jake Birthwistle, who competed in the event, posted the Environment Agency's findings on Instagram, writing that he had felt ill after the event. He said: 'Have been feeling pretty rubbish since the race, but I guess that's what you get when you swim in shit. The swim should have been cancelled. 'At least I know now what got me and a bunch of other athletes who raced sick and ill. Well done and I hope you get better soon too.' Another said: 'That now explains why I spent Monday night with my head in the toilet after racing Sunday morning!' An Environment Agency spokesperson said: 'We routinely sa){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
At least 57 triathletes were struck with diarrhoea and vomiting after they swam in Sunderland.
Their swim was off the city’s Roker Beach, as part of the UK leg of the World Triathlon Championship series last weekend.
This stretch of coastline has been at the centre of a long-running dispute over sewage discharges between environmental campaigners and the Government.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed the athletes had fallen ill, adding a questionnaire had been sent out to those with symptoms, asking for samples to determine the cause.