Families visiting Canary Islands this half-term warned issue 'has never been so dangerous'

Families visiting Canary Islands this half-term warned issue 'has never been so dangerous' Dozens have complained of suffering conditions such as gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis, ear infections and dermatitis after swimming in severely polluted beaches in the holiday hotspot Families visiting the Canary Islands for what they hope will be a sun-kissed holiday have been warned over a particular issue that could have dire consequences. In 2025, roughly 290,000 sewage discharges were recorded in England. Water companies have been fined as much as £90m for "deliberately dumping raw sewage" into the ocean because it was cheaper than treating it. But it’s not just an English problem. Italian-born paediatrician Dr Federico Gentile has warned that going for a swim in the Canary Islands has become “a game of Russian roulette.” He warned "Going for a swim in the sea has never been as dangerous as it is this year.” In a video posted to his Instagram account. The doctor explained: ”We have seen beach closures due to faecal contamination for months - Leocadio Machado, La Jaquita, Playa Jardín... and this isn't an isolated incident; it’s a structural problem. As a paediatrician, I see it every day in my practice.” He says that he has seen children coming into his surgery with a range of ailments linked to swimming in contaminated water: "Acute gastroenteritis, vomiting, and dehydration – which is far more serious in infants – as well as conjunctivitis, ear infections, and dermatitis." Dr Gentile points out that "a child is not just a small adult. They become dehydrated and their kidneys suffer much more quickly", which is why he is categorical: "This is not about causing alarm, it is about providing information and demanding solutions. Safe bathing is a public health right.” Just this week, three beaches on Tenerife have had to be closed after raw sewage was detected. Swimming had to be banned at Playa de El Médano in Granadilla de Abona, Playa del Socorro in Los Realejos and Playa Jardín in Puerto de la Cruz due to “excessively high bacterial levels.” Local news outlet Teneriffa News has set up an online database which displays the most recent sample for each beach in the Canary Islands. Several locals have complained that they, and in some cases their pets, have been severely unwell after they took a dip in sewage-tainted seawater. One wrote: “I don't want to take my son to the beach in the summer anymore; I’m always afraid now. The last three times, he had diarrhoea the next day.” Another commenter added that they had given up on days at the beach: “In June, I took my little one to the paediatrician and mentioned that beach season was starting. "The doctor looked at me and said, ‘The little one is one year old and the other is seven; the beach is very dirty... they’re going to get sick; try to avoid it.’ “I took her advice, bought a small kiddie pool, and that’s how we spent the summer. All their friends got sick, and I felt so sad about it. The sea was a wonderful joy that has been stolen from us.” Finally, one pet-owner complained: “My dog became critically ill after swallowing water at the dog-friendly beach in El Puertito de Güímar; neither humans nor animals are spared.”