Realtime pollution alerts needed on Windermere, campaigners say after boy nearly dies

Exclusive: Claire Earley’s son Rex spent six weeks in hospital after contracting E coli from contaminated lake Sandra Laville Mon 16 Mar 2026 17.00 CET Prefer the Guardian on Google

Realtime pollution alerts are needed across Windermere urgently, campaigners have said, as the mother of a seven-year-old boy who kayaked on the lake described how he nearly died after contracting a dangerous strain of E coli from contaminated water.

Claire Earley’s son Rex spent six weeks in hospital, and underwent two emergency operations, after a family kayaking trip on Windermere last August.

Rex contracted the same strain of E coli as nine-year-old Heather Preen, who died in 1999 after swimming in Devon and was featured in the recent Channel 4 drama Dirty Business, which covered the sewage scandal that has damaged UK waterways as the result of a lack of investment and maintenance since the industry was privatised.