Sick walkers rescued after drinking river water on West Highland Way
Summary
Two walkers became very sick after drinking water from a stream along the West Highland Way in Scotland, even though they used portable water filters. Mountain rescue teams have warned people to avoid drinking untreated water from natural sources and to use safe options like bottled water or treated water fountains.Key Facts
- Two incidents occurred within one week where walkers got sick after drinking from a burn (small stream) near Conic Hill.
- One walker, a German man, was taken to the hospital after vomiting through the night.
- The second walker, an American man, also vomited and needed rescue assistance.
- Both used portable filter systems but still became ill, probably due to contamination from nearby farmland and human waste.
- The mountain rescue team advises drinking only from known safe sources, like bottled water or Scottish Water fountains.
- If you must use stream water, filter it first and then boil or chemically treat it to make it safe.
- The West Highland Way passes through Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park where natural water sources can carry unseen health risks.
- Walkers on the trail are advised to be cautious and prepare by carrying treated water to avoid illness.
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