Surfing competition cancelled after raw sewage dumped into sea
Surfers ‘devastated’ as sewage spill forces cancellation of popular competition
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- The English Interclub Surfing Championships in Porthtowan, Cornwall, was called off mid-event after a raw sewage discharge into the sea.
- Lifeguards issued a red flag, indicating danger, following an alert from South West Water about the sewage release, leading organisers to prioritise competitor safety and halt the competition.
- This incident highlights ongoing concerns about sewage pollution in Cornish waters, with 8,074 sewage discharges recorded across England during last year's bathing season.
- Surfing England and environmental groups like Surfers Against Sewage are campaigning for an end to unnecessary sewage spills, citing numerous reports of illnesses linked to polluted waters.
- South West Water stated the discharge was a permitted storm overflow due to heavy rainfall and outlined its £3.2 billion investment programme aimed at reducing such incidents.