Fifty-seven swimmers fall sick and get diarrhoea at world triathlon championship in Sunderland

At least 57 people fell ill with sickness and diarrhoea after competing in sea swimming events at the World Triathlon Championship Series in Sunderland, health officials confirmed this weekend. About 2,000 people participated in the events last weekend, which included a swim off Sunderland’s blue flag Roker beach. E Coli samplings at Roker beach were shown to be 39 times higher than typical readings the previous month. Northumbrian Water said these sewage discharges would not affect Roker beach because they were “intercepted” and discharged by a long-sea outfall. The triathlon event at Sunderland was the British leg of the World Triathlon Championship Series, and took place within the qualification window for the Paris 2024 Olympic games.