Up to twelve people, many of them children, have been hospitalised after allegedly falling ill at a water park in Co Louth on Friday.
According to the Irish Mirror, Gardaí are investigating the incident at Funtasia in Drogheda, which one dad says left his three children vomiting and their cousin, aged 11, in Temple Street Hospital suffering from an inflamed larynx.
Skerries father Declan Dunne says just after 1pm, he saw a lifeguard enter the waterpark “covering his mouth and nose with a T-shirt” and begin opening windows and doors. He continued:
“A few minutes later I saw another staff member help an adult customer who had vomit on him from a child.
“Then my five-year-old son began complaining of sore eyes and wanting to get out of the water. I heard another customer say a large amount of people were vomiting.
“I asked staff if the pool was being evacuated and was told it wasn’t.
“I took the children out and on the return journey to Skerries they all continued coughing, sneezing and feeling ill.
“They all then vomited either in the car or when they got out.”
While the centre claims system checks showed that the level of chlorine in the pool was within acceptable levels, management are aware that some visitors experienced symptoms such as nausea, coughing, watering eyes and running noses.
A statement released by Funtasia said: “There was a very strong smell of chlorine in the swimming pool of the complex on Friday, April 1.’
“The pool area was cleared of customers as soon as possible and subsequently closed. A full recalibration of the pool system is under way and the pool will remain closed until this is complete. If anyone experienced symptoms it is advised they seek medical advice.”
Customers with any queries are invited to call 041 9898 000 or send an email to partyoffice@funtasia.ie.
