Latest news with #GoFarwithCPR
Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Miss England surfer, 24, says she can't train for the world championships because sewage was dumped in the sea off the Cornish coast
Miss England has revealed she's been forced to halt training for the Miss World championships after raw sewage was dumped in the sea near her Cornish hometown. Milla Magee, 24, who is also a lifeguard and keen surfer, had been preparing off the coast of Newquay ahead of flying to India on Wednesday to represent England at the international pageant. But now, the beauty queen says she's unable to keep up her fitness regime due to repeated sewage spills in the water – branding the situation 'a public health crisis'. The shocking reality has pushed the environmental campaigner to speak out against pollution on Britain's beaches, saying it's time for urgent action. 'As Miss England, a surfer, and founder of the GoFarwithCPR campaign, I've seen first-hand how powerful the ocean can be – not just for fitness, but for mental health and community,' Ms Magee said. 'That's why it's devastating to see Cornwall's waters polluted with sewage. 'Lately, many of us have had to stay out of the sea because it's simply not safe, and that's more than just a missed surf – it's a public health crisis. But now, the beauty queen says she's unable to keep up her fitness regime due to repeated sewage spills in the water – branding the situation 'a public health crisis' 'As we bid farewell to winter, the days start getting longer, the sun is shining, we want to enjoy our beaches. However, this rise in pollution just simply isn't safe.' The Cornish campaigner has joined forces with Surfers Against Sewage – a UK charity calling for an end to sewage discharges in bathing waters by 2030. Determined to make a difference, Ms Magee is now urging the public to step up and protect the coastlines. 'We need urgent action to protect our coastlines and keep the ocean a place of healing, not harm,' she said. 'For the people who don't live by the sea and understand these issues, for the children who want to enjoy nature's playground, and for the locals who simply just want to enjoy their home. 'Get involved with organisations like Surfers Against Sewage or simple beach cleans, is such a small act for an even bigger effect.' The 24-year-old's warning comes as new figures reveal just how widespread the problem has become. Last year, raw sewage was dumped into England's waters for more than 3.6 million hours – up from 1.75 million in 2022 and 2.5 million in 2021. The worst-hit areas included Salcombe and Chittlehamholt in Devon and Duloe in Cornwall – where sewage spills were occurring nearly every single day. The north and south-west of England have also been affected, with waterways like the Croal and Irwell rivers in Greater Manchester, and the Avon in Bristol, recording high pollution levels. While the Environment Agency says the number of individual spills has decreased, the average duration of each incident has gone up. Just 16 per cent of England's surface waters were rated as having 'good' ecological status in 2023, including 14 per cent of rivers and lakes and just 45 per cent of coastal waters. In stark contrast, 66 per cent of Scotland's waters were classed as 'good', with Wales and Northern Ireland also outperforming England. Southern Water – long criticised over its environmental record – revealed plans in October to raise bills more than any other UK water company over the next five years. In 2019, three employees were convicted of blocking Environment Agency investigators during a probe into sewage discharges – though none were fined. Two years later, the company was hit with a record-breaking £90 million fine after admitting to thousands of illegal discharges over a five-year period.
Telegraph
04-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Miss England surfer can't train because of sewage spill
Miss England is campaigning to save Britain's beaches after sewage spills have left her unable to train for Miss World. Milla Magee, lifeguard and surfer, had been training off the Cornish coast of her hometown, Newquay, ahead of travelling to Telangana in India on Wednesday for the international beauty pageant. But the 24-year-old has been unable to keep up with her fitness regime in recent weeks after sewage was dumped in the area. It has led Ms Magee to wade into the debate over the state of the UK's seas, which she has branded 'a public health crisis'. The situation has led her to join Surfers Against Sewage, an environmental charity campaigning to protect the ocean, which is demanding an end to sewage discharge into UK bathing waters by 2030. Ms Magee said: 'As Miss England, a surfer, and founder of the GoFarwithCPR campaign, I've seen firsthand how powerful the ocean can be – not just for fitness, but for mental health and community. 'That's why it's devastating to see Cornwall's waters polluted with sewage. 'Lately, many of us have had to stay out of the sea because it's simply not safe, and that's more than just a missed surf – it's a public health crisis. 'As we bid farewell to winter, the days start getting longer, the sun is shining, we want to enjoy our beaches. However, this rise in pollution just simply isn't safe.' She said it was vital to ensure more was done to preserve Britain's coastlines. 'We need urgent action to protect our coastlines and keep the ocean a place of healing, not harm,' she said. 'For the people who don't live by the sea and understand these issues, for the children who want to enjoy nature's playground, and for the locals who simply just want to enjoy their home. 'Get involved with organisations like Surfers Against Sewage or simple beach cleans, is such a small act for an even bigger effect.' Last year, raw sewage was poured into England's water for 3,614,428 hours compared to 3,606,170 hours in 2023, 1,754,921 hours in 2022 and 2,516,187 hours in 2021. In 2020, raw sewage remained in England's water for a total of 3,101,150 hours. Rivers and beaches, which have high environmental protections in place, were not immune to significant sewage discharges. Figures show the areas most affected in England for raw sewage spills were Salcombe and Chittlehamholt in Devon, and Duloe in Cornwall – with Duloe experiencing the equivalent of one spill per day. Both the north and south-west of England, including the Croal and Irwell rivers in Greater Manchester, Darwen in Blackburn, Avon Bristol Urban, and Calder Middle rivers in West Yorkshire, are known to have the highest rates of sewage spills. But the Environment Agency said the total number of spills were down – meaning that on average, spills in 2024 were longer in duration. In May 2023, the agency said a total of 16 per cent of assessed surface waters in England achieved 'good' ecological status, including 14 per cent of rivers and lakes, 19 per cent of estuaries, along with 45 per cent of coastal waters and 93 per cent of designated bathing waters. Findings suggest that water quality is higher in Scotland, where around two-thirds of surface waters are classed as having 'good' ecological status, compared to 40 per cent in Wales and 31 per cent in Northern Ireland. Southern Water indicated in plans unveiled in October that they had considered increasing bills over the next five years by more than any other UK water company. In 2019, a total of three Southern Water employees were convicted of hampering the Environment Agency when it was trying to collect data under its investigation into raw sewage spilled into rivers and on beaches in south-east England. None of the individuals involved were issued with a fine after several employees said they had been told by the company solicitor not to give data to the regulator. Two years later, Southern Water was awarded a £90 million fine after pleading guilty to thousands of illegal discharges over five years.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Miss England surfer can't train because of sewage spill
Miss England is campaigning to save Britain's beaches after sewage spills have left her unable to train for Miss World. Milla Magee, lifeguard and surfer, had been training off the Cornish coast of her hometown, Newquay, ahead of travelling to Telangana in India on Wednesday for the international beauty pageant. But the 24-year-old has been unable to keep up with her fitness regime in recent weeks after sewage was dumped in the area. It has led Ms Magee to wade into the debate over the state of the UK's seas, which she has branded 'a public health crisis'. The situation has led her to join Surfers Against Sewage, an environmental charity campaigning to protect the ocean, which is demanding an end to sewage discharge into UK bathing waters by 2030. Ms Magee said: 'As Miss England, a surfer, and founder of the GoFarwithCPR campaign, I've seen firsthand how powerful the ocean can be – not just for fitness, but for mental health and community. 'That's why it's devastating to see Cornwall's waters polluted with sewage. 'Lately, many of us have had to stay out of the sea because it's simply not safe, and that's more than just a missed surf – it's a public health crisis. 'As we bid farewell to winter, the days start getting longer, the sun is shining, we want to enjoy our beaches. However, this rise in pollution just simply isn't safe.' She said it was vital to ensure more was done to preserve Britain's coastlines. 'We need urgent action to protect our coastlines and keep the ocean a place of healing, not harm,' she said. 'For the people who don't live by the sea and understand these issues, for the children who want to enjoy nature's playground, and for the locals who simply just want to enjoy their home. 'Get involved with organisations like Surfers Against Sewage or simple beach cleans, is such a small act for an even bigger effect.' Last year, raw sewage was poured into England's water for 3,614,428 hours compared to 3,606,170 hours in 2023, 1,754,921 hours in 2022 and 2,516,187 hours in 2021. In 2020, raw sewage remained in England's water for a total of 3,101,150 hours. Rivers and beaches, which have high environmental protections in place, were not immune to significant sewage discharges. Figures show the areas most affected in England for raw sewage spills were Salcombe and Chittlehamholt in Devon, and Duloe in Cornwall – with Duloe experiencing the equivalent of one spill per day. Both the north and south-west of England, including the Croal and Irwell rivers in Greater Manchester, Darwen in Blackburn, Avon Bristol Urban, and Calder Middle rivers in West Yorkshire, are known to have the highest rates of sewage spills. But the Environment Agency said the total number of spills were down – meaning that on average, spills in 2024 were longer in duration. In May 2023, the agency said a total of 16 per cent of assessed surface waters in England achieved 'good' ecological status, including 14 per cent of rivers and lakes, 19 per cent of estuaries, along with 45 per cent of coastal waters and 93 per cent of designated bathing waters. Findings suggest that water quality is higher in Scotland, where around two-thirds of surface waters are classed as having 'good' ecological status, compared to 40 per cent in Wales and 31 per cent in Northern Ireland. Southern Water indicated in plans unveiled in October that they had considered increasing bills over the next five years by more than any other UK water company. In 2019, a total of three Southern Water employees were convicted of hampering the Environment Agency when it was trying to collect data under its investigation into raw sewage spilled into rivers and on beaches in south-east England. None of the individuals involved were issued with a fine after several employees said they had been told by the company solicitor not to give data to the regulator. Two years later, Southern Water was awarded a £90 million fine after pleading guilty to thousands of illegal discharges over five years. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
