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Whitemills Wake and Aqua Park, Sandwich, closed for two more days after reported illnesses

14:09, 22 August 2022

updated: 20:48, 22 August 2022

An aqua park blighted by mystery illness will remain closed tomorrow, bosses have confirmed.

Whitemills Wake and Aqua Park in Sandwich says the site will be closed until results of water testing return.

Whitemills Wake and Aqua Park in Sandwich. Picture: Ryan Peacock
Whitemills Wake and Aqua Park in Sandwich. Picture: Ryan Peacock

In a Facebook message, the centre said: "The aqua park remains closed Monday and Tuesday as we are waiting on water test results."

The centre temporarily shut down on Friday after visitors reported developing symptoms including high temperatures and vomiting.

On Saturday, centre director Wayne Cooper told KentOnline his organisation had been told about 20 people had been taken ill over the previous week but this was compared with about 2,000 visitors over that time.

He said he was mystified as to what was causing it.

Those who had booked to go to the water park are being contacted by the company and provided with a voucher to use another time.

The centre only opened last month. Picture: Ryan Peacock
The centre only opened last month. Picture: Ryan Peacock

The company said it was working closely with Dover District Council and public protection officials to establish the cause of the problem.

A spokesman for Dover District Council said today: “We are working with the UK Health Security Agency and the Whitemills Wake and Aqua Park to look into these concerns.

"DDC takes all complaints seriously and is carrying out a full and thorough investigation."

The council says those affected should contact its public protection team at ddc.publicprotection@dover.gov.uk.

The UK Health Security Agency is a government group to protect people from the impact of a range of health threats including infectious diseases.

It replaced Public Health England in April 2021.

It has not confirmed what illness centre visitors have contracted.

Whitemills Wake, at Ash Road, opened on July 9.

The park has inflatable climbing frames and slides in the centre of a lake which visitors can explore as well as a range of activities such as open water swimming and stand-up paddle boarding with special sessions such as ladies' mornings and a kids' club.

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