Twenty kids left vomiting and sick after swimming in lake at birthday party
Up to 20 children fell ill 24 hours after swimming at a popular Lennox Head lake in New South Wales, suffering gastro-like symptoms after attending a birthday party.
Goonellabah father Tony Ellem lodged a complaint with the Ballina Shire Council after his three sons fell ill last Saturday, the day after the swimming party at Lake Ainsworth, The Northern Star reports.
After contacting parents via social media to see if anyone else had been affected, he was shocked to learn that approximately 20 children were suffering the same illness.
Mr Ellem told The Northern Star he believed hot temperatures over the weekend may have caused a spike in blue-green algae levels in the lake, which can cause vomiting, skin irritation and respiratory problems if swallowed.
Lismore resident Lisa Jones told The Northern Star she felt like she had "been hit by a car" after she was struck down with vomiting for two days after swimming at the lake.
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"In fact, if I didn't live alone, I would have considered someone driving me to emergency."
The Northern NSW Local Health District said there had been no record of presentations at hospital linked to swimming in Lake Ainsworth.
Ballina Shire Council acting group manager for environmental health, Kerri Watts, said the lake was now being tested as part of ongoing water monitoring at the lake.
She said "small flecks of green material" could be seen when conditions were still, with a blue-green film appearing on the water's surface.
