A MUM whose daughter almost died after she was exposed to toxic water has urged others with similar experiences to come forward.
Caitlin Edwards, 22, was fighting for her life after frolicking in the sewage-filled sea near Amroth Beach in Pembrokeshire last August.
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Mum Jayne Etherington has urged those who have swam in the sewage-filled water to come forward Credit: Jayne Etherington/Media Wales 3
Student Caitlin Edwards was fighting for her life after going for a dip in the toxic sea Credit: Jayne Etherington/Media Wales
The student then contracted E.Coli and looked like "she was going to die" after going for a dip in the toxic water.
Caitlin was subsequently diagnosed with haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), a rare condition that ravages the kidneys, but has since made a full recovery.
Concerned mum Jayne Etherington watched her daughter battle for her life for five "horrendous" months, and has now pleaded with those who have come into contact with the water to come forward.
"That's what can happen and I'm determined that it doesn't happen to anyone else," Ms Etherington said.
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"She'd gone from a happy, healthy vibrant 22-year-old to looking like she was going to die.
"We didn't know she wasn't.
"It was horrendous."
Jayne also condemned local authorities for allowing untreated sewage to be pumped into the sea at Wiseman's Bridge, just a few hundred metres from Amroth Beach.
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"We were allowed to believe it was a CSO spill," Ms Etherington told ITV News.
She added: "No-one said: 'This is something more serious.'"
It is estimated that up to 10 per cent of patients may develop HUS, which can cause neurological complications such as seizure, stroke and coma, according to the World Health Organisation.
Signs were erected on the beach by the county council warning revellers not to swim, but Caitlin didn't notice the advisory when she entered the water.
The warnings were put up because the council were "acting on information received regarding a pollution incident from Natural Resources Wales".
Pembrokeshire County Council and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said they were investigating the incident.
Nicola Mills, environment team leader for NRW, said: "The owners of the private discharge point acted immediately to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
"Our officers have visited the area since and there have been no further concerns witnessed or reported.
"Around the same time there was also an ongoing CSO discharge therefore it was not possible to pinpoint sole responsibility for the failure of bathing water sampling at Wiseman's Bridge.
"Both Amroth and Wiseman's Bridge were sampled on the same day.
"Results from those tests showed a failure in water quality at Wiseman's Bridge but not at Amroth.
"Every discharge outlet has its own permit limits which are decided on an individual basis by our permitting team."
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Student Caitlin was diagnosed with haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) Credit: Jayne Etherington/Media Wales
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