‘My son is still suffering’: the ill effects of water contamination in ‘Brixham incident’

Key points

• Most of the tourists milling around the busy fishing harbour or visiting Agatha Christie’s riverside holiday retreat have probably forgotten what South West Water euphemistically calls the “Brixham incident”.
• But for residents at the centre of the “incident” – a parasite outbreak that caused perhaps hundreds of people in south Devon to fall ill after they drank contaminated water – the physical and psychological impacts are still keenly felt.
• People who live in the outbreak zone say they believe that they continue to endure illnesses caused by the contamination, while many vow to never drink tap water again.
• “So many of us are still suffering,” said Lisa Horswill, 55, who believes her autoimmune issues may be down to the outbreak.
• “I had an existing health condition before it happened but I have been much worse since.” Her husband, Kris Horswill, 44, had kidney problems before the outbreak in the spring...