Mother praises drama about girl's E. coli death

A mother who believes her daughter died after contracting E. coli on a Devon beach, has praised a newly released drama about their story.

Channel 4's Dirty Business tells the story of Heather Preen who died two weeks after contracting E. coli in 1999.

The eight-year-old, from Rednal in Birmingham, died 12 days into a family holiday to Dawlish Warren, after a beach walk in the south Devon town.

South West Water said that the loss of a child was "devastating" and added that no definitive source of infection was established.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Heather's mother Julie Maughan said she was incredibly proud to see the show released.

She added: "I was initially concerned about the whole thing but once I saw it - it's just a brilliant piece of work and I'm really proud Heather has been a part of it.

"The way Heather died, it was a horrible death - in effect she was poisoned.

"I asked the team to make sure they got that across to people - it was not a nice way for a child to die.

"I didn't want them to hold the punches really so people could see what we all suffered and what Heather went through.

"I really felt heard and listened to - the scenes are so sensitive and powerful, I can't express how grateful I was.

"What they have done is just outstanding."

Mark Preen, Heather's father, took his own life in 2016.

Actor Tom McKay, who portrayed him in the show, said: "For me, this was unlike any project I've ever worked on.

"Having Julie's support and investment in the project was the most important thing for everyone.

"The script became our bible in terms of doing Julie and Suzanne [Heather's sister], and ultimately Heather, the service they deserved.

"Having the responsibility of telling Heather's story, Julie's story, Mark's story and Suzanne's story was enormous but also an incredible privilege."

Maughan said the acting in the show, helped her have a better understanding of what Mark Preen went through.

She said: "I have spoken to Tom at length about this but it [his acting] helped me enormously at the time...

"Seeing Tom portray what happened, something clicked and I just realised he had the most awful time.

"He lost his little girl in the end and I just felt so so sad for Mark."

In a statement, South West Water said: "The loss of a child is devastating and we recognise the lasting impact this has had on those closest to her.

"At the time, there was an extensive and multi-agency investigation involving public health authorities, the Environment Agency and other relevant bodies.

"The Outbreak Control Team (OCT) report concluded that, despite intensive investigations, no cause for the outbreak was identified.

"The inquest documentation confirms that no definitive source of infection was established.

"The inquest report also noted that E. coli O157 is a bacteria commonly carried by animals, particularly cattle and dogs."

It added: "More than 100 environmental and sewer samples were taken as part of the investigation.

"The specific strain of E. coli involved in the case was not identified in samples taken from the sewer network.

"Despite the thorough and intensive nature of the investigation, no sufficient evidence was found linking the illness to storm overflow activity or bathing water quality.

"The circumstances of wastewater infrastructure and regulation in the late 1990s were very different from today.

"Since then, significant investment, including through the Clean Sweep programme - which put waste treatment in fort the first time in Dawlish after decades without it.

"We understand that the revisiting of historic events through dramatisation can raise difficult questions.

"It is important that any discussion reflects the findings of the formal investigations carried out at the time.

"Our focus remains on protecting public health, safeguarding bathing waters and continuing to improve environmental performance."

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