Rowers have now been issued advice including covering cuts, grazes, and blisters with waterproof dressings, taking care not to swallow river water that splashes close to the mouth, wearing suitable footwear when launching or recovering a boat, and cleaning all equipment thoroughly.
Water companies pumped raw sewage into British rivers and seas for a record 3.6million hours last year, more than double than in 2022, new figures have revealed.