A three-year-old girl has been hospitalized with a serious E. coli infection after paddleboarding in Christchurch Harbour, Dorset. Ivy Foster fell ill shortly after visiting the harbor with her mother in August, experiencing vomiting, abdominal pain, and a high temperature.
Her mother, Kimberley, reported that an unpleasant smell emanated from the water as the tide went out, prompting her to remove Ivy. Days later, Ivy was taken to Poole Hospital, where doctors confirmed an E. coli infection. The illness has since caused Ivy to be admitted to the hospital three times, with her condition fluctuating.
Ivy developed an infection resistant to antibiotics, which has progressed to affect her right kidney. She is currently being treated for an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) infection, a condition that can be life-threatening if it enters the bloodstream or lungs, requiring her to be kept in isolation for infection control.
"She is petrified of being here," Kimberley stated, referring to her daughter's fear of medical procedures. "I don't want another child to go through what Ivy has gone through." Ivy requires intravenous fluids for hydration and has struggled to eat properly. Her family has faced a difficult summer, with one parent frequently at the hospital or caring for Ivy at home.
Christchurch Harbour has been colloquially referred to as the 'toilet bowl of Bournemouth' due to agricultural runoff from the River Stour, which passes through farmland with cattle, as well as drainage from building sites and sewage treatment plants. The harbor's narrow outlet reportedly hinders the flow of pollutants into the sea.
In a separate incident, another child was hospitalized with campylobacter infection after swimming at Avon Beach, located near the harbor's entrance. The Environment Agency stated that recent sampling indicated E. coli levels in Christchurch Harbour were within expected ranges, and they have not identified a specific pollution source after investigating potential causes, including water company discharges.
A spokesperson for Wessex Water confirmed that the high E. coli readings were not related to their company's operations.
A fundraising page has been set up to support Ivy's family during her illness, having raised over £2,700.