COUNCIL SAYS NO CONFIRMED HEALTH REPORTS RECEIVED

CONCERN is continuing to grow across Pembrokeshire after social media claims that a child became seriously ill following a swim in the sea at Tenby prompted widespread discussion over bathing water safety and sewage pollution.

The claims emerged in a Tenby Facebook group, where a parent alleged their son became severely unwell after swimming in the sea on Tuesday (May 6), later developing sickness and diarrhoea before being admitted to hospital.

The parent wrote: “It’s terrible we can’t swim in our seas and rivers safely anymore. Please be aware.”

The post triggered hundreds of comments, with some people alleging previous illnesses after swimming at beaches across Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, while others questioned whether enough warnings had been issued to tourists and visitors.

However, Pembrokeshire County Council has confirmed that the only current “abnormal situation” officially notified to the authority relates to Lydstep Haven — not Tenby beaches.

In a statement to The Herald, the council said it was first notified by Natural Resources Wales on Wednesday (May 6) that NRW was declaring an abnormal situation at Lydstep Haven.

The council said a Facebook warning advising people not to swim was issued the same day.

Officers from the council’s Pollution Control Team attended the beach within two hours and installed warning signs at “appropriate locations”.

The authority confirmed the signs remained in place as of Monday morning (May 11).

Pembrokeshire County Council also said it had “not received any notifications or confirmed reports of health impacts associated with the incident.”

The council added that the notification from NRW related “only to Lydstep Haven”.

The authority continues to advise people not to swim at Lydstep Haven “until further notice”.

NRW is understood to still be investigating the cause of the incident.

Online anger

Despite the clarification from the council, the online discussion has intensified concern about the wider state of Welsh coastal waters.

One commenter wrote: “This is a national disgrace.”

Another said: “Why were there no signs put up on the beaches to warn people it was unsafe to swim in?”

Several commenters claimed they or family members had previously become unwell after swimming at beaches including Tenby, Newgale, Amroth and Coppet Hall.

One alleged: “I got sepsis from a cut in Newgale surfing.”

Another wrote that their daughter became seriously ill after a previous pollution incident and required dialysis treatment.

No medical evidence has been published linking the latest reported illness directly to seawater exposure, and there is currently no official confirmation that conditions at Tenby beaches caused the child’s illness.

Questions over alerts

Some social media users suggested there may be confusion online between the current Lydstep warning and historic NRW pollution notices previously issued for Tenby beaches.

Others pointed out that the Surfers Against Sewage water quality app was not showing an active alert for Tenby itself.

The row comes less than a week before a planned Surfers Against Sewage paddle-out protest at Broad Haven on Saturday, May 16, where campaigners are expected to call for tougher action over sewage pollution affecting rivers and coastal waters.

The Herald has also approached Natural Resources Wales and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water for comment.

PARENT SAYS BOY BECAME SERIOUSLY ILL AFTER SWIMMING DURING FAMILY VISIT

CONCERN is growing in Pembrokeshire after a parent claimed their child was admitted to hospital after swimming in the sea at Tenby.

The post, shared in a local Tenby Facebook group, said the family had visited the resort between Monday and Thursday, with the boy swimming in the sea on Tuesday (May 6).

His parent wrote: “My son swam in the sea on the 6th and the next morning came down with terrible sickness and diarrhoea — he’s been very unwell since and has tonight been admitted to hospital.”

They added: “It’s terrible we can’t swim in our seas and rivers safely anymore. Please be aware.”

The post prompted hundreds of reactions and dozens of comments, with many people expressing sympathy for the family and others raising wider concerns about sewage pollution and water quality around the Pembrokeshire coast.

One commenter said: “This is a national disgrace, please put in a written complaint to Dŵr Cymru and Natural Resources Wales.”

Another asked: “Why were there no signs put up on the beaches to warn people it was unsafe to swim in?”

Others claimed they or family members had suffered illness after swimming at locations including Tenby, Amroth, Newgale and Coppet Hall.

One person wrote: “I got sepsis from a cut in Newgale surfing. Took six weeks in hospital and seven months recovery and still not right to get over it.”

Another said: “Please check with your son’s doctors regarding E.coli and a condition called HUS, which can develop from E.coli. My daughter swam at Amroth in 2022 after a sewage incident in the area and became seriously ill.”

No medical evidence has been published linking the latest reported illness directly to seawater exposure, and there is currently no official confirmation that conditions at Tenby caused the child’s illness.

However, the post has reignited anger over sewage discharges, pollution alerts and the information available to visitors and local people before entering the water.

Lydstep warning

The concern follows a recent warning at Lydstep Haven after Natural Resources Wales informed Pembrokeshire County Council of an “abnormal situation” which could temporarily affect bathing water quality.

Pembrokeshire County Council said officers from its Pollution Control Team had placed warning notices at various locations around the beach, temporarily advising against bathing while the matter was investigated.

Some residents questioned whether warnings were clear enough, particularly during busy holiday periods.

One commenter wrote: “Why aren’t there any warnings to holiday makers and visitors to our local area? It’s not fair that they find out information after someone becomes ill.”

Another said: “There should be notices and announcements on the beaches if there is an outage.”

Others pointed out that Surfers Against Sewage’s water quality app was not showing an active alert for Tenby itself, and suggested some online comments may have confused the current Lydstep warning with previous pollution notices affecting beaches in the Tenby area.

Protest at Broad Haven

The issue comes less than a week before campaigners stage a Surfers Against Sewage paddle-out protest at Broad Haven.

The protest is due to take place on Saturday, May 16, at 1:30pm, as part of a UK-wide day of action calling for an end to sewage pollution in rivers and seas.

Surfers Against Sewage says communities across the UK will gather on beaches, riverbanks and in the water to demand stronger action on sewage pollution.

The campaign group said: “We are sick of it. Sick of the lies, sick of the greed and sick of a system that’s rigged against us.”

A large banner has already been placed on Broad Haven seafront encouraging people to attend the protest.

Tourism concerns

The row has also raised concerns about the potential impact on Pembrokeshire’s tourism industry, with Tenby, Broad Haven, Newgale and other seaside communities heavily dependent on visitors during the spring and summer months.

One commenter wrote: “Not very good for a holiday destination is it.”

Another said: “Tourism will be massively affected by incidents like this, and people’s health and lives are being put at risk.”

Others called for stronger action from Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales, Pembrokeshire County Council and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water.

The Herald has approached Natural Resources Wales, Pembrokeshire County Council and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water for comment.

National Fishing Remembrance Day marked by Port

MILFORD HAVEN came together on Sunday (May 10) to remember those who have lost their lives at sea.

The Port of Milford Haven joined the Fishermen’s Mission, Stella Maris – Apostleship of the Sea and members of the local community for a National Fishing Remembrance Day service at St Katherine’s and St Peter’s Church.

The service was followed by a gathering at the Fisherman’s Memorial on The Rath, where those who never returned home from the sea were remembered.

Canon Chancellor John Cecil and Reverend Paul Osunyikanmi led what was described as a moving service of remembrance.

The Port of Milford Haven said it was honoured to take part in the event, paying tribute to fishing families and the wider maritime community.

The annual day of remembrance holds particular significance in Milford Haven, a town with deep fishing and seafaring roots.