EXCLUSIVE: Ex-tattoo artist Katherine Hopkins revealed she started experiencing agonising stomach cramps and had to use the toilet as much as 30 times a day after she took a dip during a heatwave
A beachgoer claimed she was left violently ill with a parasite after taking a dip during the heatwave after “swallowing contaminated seawater.”
Katherine Hopkins was hospitalised for a month just days after she enjoyed a swim in the sea at Hove Lawns, Brighton, East Sussex. The 35-year-old swam in the water for four consecutive days from May 23, as well as enjoying one quick dip in Lancing Beach in West Sussex.
Ex-tattoo artist Katherine said she was swimming for “three to four hours at a time” and did splash her face with seawater, but didn’t ever put her head beneath the water. About 10 days after her first beach swim, Katherine began experiencing agonising stomach cramps – and had to use the toilet as much as 30 times a day.
As her symptoms got worse, Katherine decided to go to hospital where tests revealed that Katherine had contracted cryptosporidium – a microscopic, single-celled parasite that causes an intestinal illness called cryptosporidiosis. Katherine, who was a particularly vulnerable patient after undergoing a kidney transplant in 2010, believes she ingested the parasite by swallowing seawater when splashing her face – which she fears could have been contaminated.
Following a month in hospital, Katherine was discharged home two-and-a-half stone lighter after surviving on a liquid diet. Katherine, who is still experiencing symptoms now, believes she got the infection from dirty seawater and fears more people could fall ill if they swim in it.
Earlier this month, Southern Water was fined £7.1m at Canterbury Crown Court after repeated illegal sewage pollution incidents forced the closure of beaches off the Kent coast. The court heard how preventable equipment failures and poor operational oversight led to repeated discharges of untreated sewage between 2019 and 2021, some at the height of summer.
The prosecution comes almost exactly five years after Southern Water received a record £90 million fine for nearly 7,000 illegal sewage discharges across Hampshire, Kent and Sussex. Across five major pollution incidents, Southern Water repeatedly failed to maintain critical pumping equipment, delayed reporting pollution to regulators and allowed untreated sewage to enter coastal waters, the court heard.
Southern Water said that the incidents were five years ago, and pointed out that Hove’s bathing water is now rated ‘Excellent’ by the Environment Agency. Katherine, who lives in Hove, East Sussex, said: “I went in the sea for the majority of each day. I loved it.
“It didn’t look visibly dirty. Brighton sea always looks a bit murky. There were no signs saying ‘don’t swim here’. There were kids in the water. I splashed my face and got water in my eye. I was in and out between three to four hours at a time.”
But around 10 days after her first swim, she developed stomach cramps. Katherine said: “I was going to the toilet 20 to 30 times and I was so dehydrated. When I tried to drink water, it would just come straight out.
“I was nearly fainting, I was hot and feverish. I threw up once. I thought I had food poisoning but I hadn’t eaten anything to cause that. I genuinely thought I was going to die. I just felt really helpless.”
After her symptoms failed to improve, Katherine went to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on June 16 where tests revealed she had contracted a parasite known as cryptosporidium that causes the diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis.
Symptoms of cryptosporidiosis generally begin two to 10 days after infection, which Katherine says a specialist doctor suggested was likely picked up from swimming in the sea. The parasite lives intestines of infected humans and animals and then excreted out, often then being caught by people who come into contact with contaminated water sources.
It can enter the water from agricultural run-off via streams and rivers, storm overflows or from sewage discharges. In 2024, a cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Brixham, Devon, resulted in a utility company being fined £1.85million after hundreds of people fell ill and thousands had to boil their drinking water.
After a month in hospital, Katherine was discharged home on July 6 – and has vowed never to swim in British waters again. Katherine said: “I was really angry. I’m never going swimming in the sea in the UK again.
“I think the beach should be shut off – there were so many kids swimming in there and god forbid if they were to get this. I was really shocked – I never thought I’d go in the sea and contract a parasite. People should be able to go in the sea without getting ill.”
Adur District Council, who manage Lancing Beach, said that it was a matter for the Environment Agency. An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Our seas, rivers and lakes naturally contain bacteria, some of which can cause illness. Additional bacteria can enter from farm runoff, sewage works and storm overflows, especially after heavy rain.
“This bathing water is regularly monitored, and, on this occasion, there were no signs of any impact on water quality. We encourage people to follow UKHSA swimming advice and check Swimfo before visiting a designated bathing water.”
Southern Water said there were no storm overflow released at either of the nearest locations during the times Katherine swam.
A spokesperson from Southern Water said: “Hove’s bathing water is rated ‘Excellent’ by the Environment Agency, with the nearest storm overflow more than two miles offshore and five miles north west of Hove.
“Local waters are further protected by Brighton’s super-sewer, which can store 150,000 tonnes of rainwater and wastewater for treatment at Peacehaven. No overflow took place on the days in question and samples taken by the EA on the 15th, 21st and 27th May showed no so-called faecal indicators.
“We are sorry to hear someone became unwell after swimming. Southern Water is committed to protecting bathing water quality and works alongside local authorities and other partners to safeguard our coastline.”
Regarding the £7.1million fine for sewage pollution, Southern Water said it was ‘deeply sorry’ but pointed out the events took place between 2019-21. They admitted pollution incidents are ‘unacceptable’ but that since then they have made significant changes.