Why UK Beaches Are Making Tourists Sick as Hundreds Report Illness After Swimming

More than 700 people have reported falling ill after using beaches and waterways across the UK this year, according to data collected by marine conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS). The reports have come from 406 locations, including beaches with Blue Flag status, as concerns over water quality and sewage pollution grow during the summer.

SAS said 765 people contacted the charity about illness in 2026, with 322 reports recorded since May 1, when warmer temperatures prompted more people to visit the coast, Daily Mail reported. Reported illnesses include gastroenteritis and ear infections, although the charity's data is based on self-reported illness and does not independently establish the cause of each case. Mystery Blue Sea Creatures Cover UK Beaches, Leave Visitors Stunned.

Why Are Beachgoers Reporting Illness After Visiting UK Beaches?

SAS collects reports from people who believe they became unwell after using the UK's waters. The charity says symptoms reported by water users include gastroenteritis and ear infections, with some cases resulting in hospital treatment and time away from work.

According to SAS, 15,362 days have been taken off work since 2019 because of sickness that people reported as being contracted from UK waters. The charity has received 8,313 sickness reports from Britain's beaches since it began collecting the data in 2019.  UK’s Army Foundation College Faces Rape and S*xual Harassment Allegations by Former Women Recruits.

Blue Flag Beaches Also Included

The reports include locations that have received Blue Flag status, a certification associated with standards covering water quality, environmental management, safety, accessibility and other criteria.

Three reports in the supplied data were linked to Durley Chine beach in Bournemouth, which received Blue Flag status in 2026. SAS has previously reported sickness cases at beaches officially rated “excellent”. Its data shows that reports can occur at locations across different water-quality classifications. However, the presence of a sickness report does not necessarily mean that sewage or another specific pollutant caused the illness.

Bournemouth Records Highest Number Of Reports

Bournemouth was the most reported location in the figures supplied, with 16 people reporting illness. Croyde Bay in north Devon and Polzeath in Cornwall each recorded 13 reports. Rest Bay in Porthcawl, Wales, followed with 12 reports.

Exmouth in Devon recorded 10 reports, while nine people reported becoming unwell after visiting Portreath in north Cornwall. Saunton Sands in north Devon, Swanage Central in Dorset and Ogmore in Barry, Wales, each recorded eight reports. Woolacombe Village in north Devon recorded seven reports.

Sewage Pollution Remains A Major Concern

SAS has linked its wider campaign to concerns over sewage discharges into UK waters. The charity said sewage dumping by water companies has been occurring for decades and argues that the latest sickness data demonstrates the potential impact on people using coastal waters.

In 2024, water companies in England recorded 2,487 pollution incidents, according to the figures supplied by SAS. The charity also said 4.7 million hours were spent dumping sewage into UK waters that year.

SAS's wider data shows that sewage pollution remains a significant concern. The charity says it issued 5,463 sewage alerts across the UK in 2026 as of July 1.

St Mary's Bay Had Most Reported Sick Days

While Bournemouth recorded the highest number of sickness reports among the locations highlighted for 2026, St Mary's Bay in Kent recorded the largest number of reported sick days in SAS's longer-term data.

The charity said 1,014 workdays were lost following reported illness linked to the location. Overall, SAS says 15,362 workdays have been lost since 2019 among people reporting sickness after using UK waters.

What Does Blue Flag Status Mean?

Blue Flag status is awarded to beaches that meet environmental and management criteria, including requirements relating to water quality, waste management, biodiversity, safety and accessibility.

The presence of sickness reports at some Blue Flag locations has prompted SAS to question whether existing monitoring arrangements adequately reflect risks faced by water users. However, a Blue Flag classification is based on defined criteria and does not mean that a beach can never experience pollution or contamination.

SAS Calls For Government Action

Jo Morley, head of campaigns at SAS, said: 'Thousands of water users are reporting this to us, and this is likely just the tip of the iceberg. 'From gastroenteritis and ear infections, to weeks off work and hospitalisations. This is a public health crisis.

'We know that sewage is pouring into our waters, even during this summer's exceptionally dry weather, and it's totally unacceptable that people are getting ill in any case, especially after using bathing waters rated as "excellent".'

'There is no official Government data, and no legal protections for people using the water,' Morley added. 'This is symptomatic of a totally broken system that has put profits first for too long, allowing polluters to cash in whilst dumping sewage without punishment, and this has to change.'

SAS has called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham's Government to end the privatised water industry, adding: 'The PM must take back control of failing water companies and remove the profit motive and restructure them, starting with Thames Water.' Burnham became prime minister on July 20, 2026, according to the UK government.

What The Data Does - And Does Not - Show

The sickness figures provide a picture of illnesses reported by people who believe their symptoms were connected to using UK waters.

They do not, on their own, prove that sewage caused an individual's illness. SAS's own guidance states that a single sickness report cannot confirm sewage pollution as the cause, although clusters of reports can indicate potential water-quality problems.

The charity says its reporting system is intended to help identify patterns and support campaigns for improved water quality.

As more people head to beaches during periods of hot weather, the data is likely to keep attention focused on the quality and safety of Britain's coastal waters and the effectiveness of sewage monitoring and regulation.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 08, 2026 09:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).