An 80-year-old grandmother was rushed to hospital with severe dehydration after drinking water suspected to contain cryptosporidium bacteria.
Elaine Hollier, 80, from Brixham, Devon, was taken away by paramedics on Saturday 11 May after suffering severe dehydration and vomiting for two weeks.
Medics were initially stumped by her condition until South West Water (SWW) confirmed an outbreak of the parasite had been found in an underground reservoir serving their home and around 16,000 others – an estimated 40,000 people.
Her husband of 60 years, Dennis Hollier, initially thought they had fallen ill after eating undercooked sausage. But she is now one of hundreds of people suspected to have fallen ill after ingesting the parasite via contaminated water.
The scandal has prompted calls for bosses at SWW to quit – while the local MP says the outbreak has ‘undermined trust’ in Britain’s water network.
Mr Hollier says he was left worried sick after being told to stay away from hospital while doctors tried to figure out why she was so ill.
Elaine Hollier (pictured with husband Dennis) has been hospitalised after drinking water contaminated with cryptosporidium bacteria
Mr Hollier was told to stay away from hospital while medics puzzled over condition – only realising she had ingested the bacteria after South West Water issued a ‘boil water’ alert
Hillhead Reservoir, the underground reservoir where the outbreak of bacteria is thought to have originated
Locals in south Devon are being told to boil the water before using it for cooking or drinking
Locals in Brixham, Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland and north-east Paignton in Devon were all told to boil water as a precaution
Mr Hollier said of his wife’s condition: ‘She was absolutely diabolical. For four days I was trying to help her but I got so worried I phoned 111.
‘The hospital didn’t know how to treat her because they didn’t know what was infecting her.
‘She had severe stomach pains and could hardly talk because she was so dehydrated.
‘As soon as they confirmed there was a bug in the water the doctors said, ‘we know how to treat you now’.
‘I have been worried sick, I was even told to stay away from the hospital because they didn’t know what it was.’
Mr Hollier claims he was told by South West Water that the water was safe to drink after he called to them say his wife was ill.
‘I phoned up South West Water to tell them what happened but they said you can carry on drinking the water,’ he added.
‘I know 10 people at least who have come down with it.
‘It has been so upsetting to see my wife in a hospital bed with tubes sticking out of her arms for antibiotics.
‘She’s got no appetite and no energy. I was dead worried for myself too because they didn’t have a clue.’
Cryptosporidium can be found in the intestines and faeces of infected humans and animals. The parasite can be ingested by swimming in or drinking contaminated water as well as other sources such as contaminated food.
It can lead to the disease cryptosporidiosis, which causes fever, a loss of appetite, diarrhoea and vomiting. The NHS says most people recover within a month, if not less.
Mr Hollier says he also suffered symptoms but had a ‘lucky escape’ because he drinks less water than his wife.
He saw workmen at the Hillhead Reservoir pumping station a week ago and at the time thought nothing of it but now suspects the work may have been linked to the outbreak.
He added: ‘It’s a disgrace, doctors say she could take a month to recover. She is going to write to South West Water to say: ‘you put me in hospital’.
‘I think whoever is responsible needs sacking and the water company needs to explain what they knew and when because I don’t think we have been told the whole truth.’
South West Water unloading crates of bottled water to distribute to locals in south Devon
South West Water handing out emergency rations of bottled water to those affected by the Cryptosporidium outbreak
South West Water has set up two bottled water stations in the area and has also pledged to pay affected customers an extra £100 in compensation
Dirty tap water is seen in a glass cup in Looe
Long queues can be seen formed on a road in Devon as people queue up for bottled water
Images have revealed around a dozen South West Water vans gathered at Hillhead Reservoir, which is believed to be the source of the outbreak.
The Conservative MP for Totnes, Anthony Mangnall, claims ‘animal waste’ may have contaminated the Hillhead Reservoir that serves Brixham – getting into the supply via a damaged air valve.
Locals in Brixham, Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland and north-east Paignton in Devon were all told to boil water as a precaution – including for drinking or using it to cook with and brush teeth – after SWW issued an alert yesterday.
The UK Health Security Agency said 22 people are confirmed to have the disease. As many as 70 other cases of diarrhoea and vomiting in residents and visitors to Brixham are also under investigation.
Bottled water stations were set up to hand out supplies in the local area – with huge queues of cars visible from the skies.
At Broadsands car park in Paignton, residents fumed at the unfolding disaster – which South West Water initially claimed was not related to its network.
One resident said: ‘I am furious this had happened. Water rates are incredibly expensive and now we are told we can’t even drink it.
‘I think the bosses who take such huge salaries should come down here and explain to us how things have gone so wrong.’
Locals say the problem has been apparent for weeks, long before SWW acknowledged it yesterday.
One local, James Martins, said: ‘We have been ill for weeks with vomiting, diarrhoea and headaches. We are still feeling bad on-and-off.
‘My understanding is it will be days or weeks before the reservoir is fully drained and in the meantime we have to boil our water.
‘It has not been handled well by South West Water but all the staff we have dealt with have been wonderful, I think it’s higher up the chain where the problems are’.
Local businesses have reported being affected by not being able to use tap water, saying the crisis is having a significant impact on trade.
John Ingram of The Bay Coffee Company in Brixham told MailOnline: ‘We can’t give anybody a glass of water.
‘It is affecting trade – a lot more people are just not coming out.
‘Everyone is now worried about getting ill.’ He added: ‘We’re trying to adapt ourselves.’
Mr Ingram said the cafe is using disposable cups instead of using the water to wash up.
Revellers who travelled to Devon for Brixham Pirate Festival earlier this month feared they acquired the bacteria there.
Meg Dew said her friends have been ill since attending the event, which took place between May 4 and May 6.
‘My 62-year-old mum has a bad stomach and diarrhoea,’ she said.
‘My friends have been ill since the Pirate Festival… I didn’t even know until this morning that there was anything wrong with the water.’
Some people believe they contracted the bacteria while attending Brixham Pirate Festival earlier this month (pictured)
Shelves usually stocked with water are empty as people panic buy in a bid to avoid tap water
Eden Park Primary School in Brixham confirmed they would not open today following the outbreak
A local added on Facebook: ‘A lot of people were over in Brixham for pirate festival so people in (postcode area) TQ3 might not be getting it from their water supply but caught it over that weekend.’
MP Mr Mangnall has described SWW’s initial failure to acknowledge a problem with the supply as ‘enormously frustrating’.
He said earlier today: ‘I am very concerned about SWW’s response to this situation, as they have been slow to act and communication with customers has been very poor.
‘This has certainly undermined trust in our water network, and I will certainly keep working with colleagues at DEFRA to ensure SWW are held to account over this issue.’
The water board, meanwhile, has agreed to credit affected customers with £100 compensation on top of a previous £15 payment.
But shelves in local supermarkets have been stripped bare of bottled water while one school in Brixham did not open today because, it claimed, SWW had not supplied it with bottled water for the day.
Those infected by the parasite outbreak could be ill for up to a month, Professor Paul Hunter told Sky News.
He explained if the parasite cryptosporidium is ‘a continuous thing’ present in water supplies for a prolonged period, then ‘you’d expect to see more cases’.
South West Water is working with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in order to figure out how cryptosporidium is getting into the network.
Laura Flowerdew of the water firm said: ‘We sincerely apologise for the impact this is having on our customers in the Brixham and Alston areas.
‘Protecting the health of our customers and providing them with a clean, fresh drinking water supply is our number one priority and we will continue to work around the clock to make sure that happens as soon as possible.’