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Flip

Original poster

River Dart Country Park - norovirus

23 replies

MyballsareSandy · 14/08/2014 07:53

The entire park is closed apparently due to approx 100 people coming down with this virus. We are due to go Monday and they are saying it will have been disinfected and open for business again.

Would you still go? It has put me off completely, can't think of anything worse than the pukes\shits in a tent with a communal loo block to stagger to .

OP posts:

SalomeD · 14/08/2014 08:04

Have to agree, it looks a lovely place for families but the thought of trying to clear up after vomitting kids or attacks of diarrhoea in a tent is pretty nightmareish.

MummyTheGregor · 14/08/2014 09:18

God no way!!!!

Definitely find alternative site....

Thumbcat · 14/08/2014 11:01

No, I'd steer well clear of it. Presumably they'll refund anyone who chooses not to risk the shits?

Linus33 · 14/08/2014 18:58

I'd go. The site is fab and the team there are brilliant. Our family were one of the 'evictees' (as some media has coined us!) but despite having to clean sick up all night in a tent without even a bucket we had a great time and wouldn't hesitate to go back.

This is not the fault of River Dart Country Park. I don't feel it has been negligent in any way. The only negligence was caused by someone who came to the park themselves, or with children that were poorly.

I have a massive amount of respect for the RDCP with the way they have handled this awful situation, even though we were directly affected.

If you're not sick, go and have a good time!!!!!

Linus33 · 14/08/2014 19:05

I also gave to add that the cleaning of the site that they are planning (which includes the grass) won't allow the survival of any of the virus. If you want 'clean' Monday would be my bet!

OhYouBadBadKitten · 14/08/2014 19:14

How are they going to clean the grass?

Linus33 · 14/08/2014 19:55

No idea and a feat in itself but I can only think that steam might be involved. They're working between now and Monday doing a deep clean. If I were norovirus I'd be very, very, scared .

OhYouBadBadKitten · 14/08/2014 20:48

I can imagine a full deep clean of any communal facility but I don't think you can get rid of viruses on grass. However I wouldn't have thought that grass would be a high risk anyway. I'm not arguing with you, I'm just massively curious. Where did you hear about the grass?

GalaxyInMyPants · 14/08/2014 20:51

I'd go but avoid the pool. And avoid the on site pub probably.

MinimalistMommi · 14/08/2014 21:08

I wouldn't go, I wouldn't enjoy myself.

Linus33 · 15/08/2014 07:00

OYBBK, I think the grass cleaning was mentioned by a staff member but I didn't enquire as to the process.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 15/08/2014 07:36

Fair enough :)

Must be horrible for this to happen to your business, have to say.

StairsInTheNight · 15/08/2014 07:40

This sounds awful, we were planning on going next summer. Can it really be caused by one family? Can't think why you would go on a camping holiday with noro they must have been mad!

westcountrywoman · 15/08/2014 07:48

Norovirus can't survive without a host for more than 48 hours. Therefore if the site has been empty since Weds, even without a deep clean there should, in theory, be zero chance of catching anything by Monday.

I'd go, personally. It's a Norovirus incident, not food poisoning or something that you could blame the site for. By all accounts the site have been fab about the whole thing and very open. It's a shame that thoughtless people take germs like this in holiday with them, spoiling it for everyone and costing the holiday park a lot of money, no doubt.

Linus33 · 15/08/2014 07:51

Public Health England are still trying to build a picture of where the source might have been on site. I'm surmising but there must have an external factor.

We'll be going back next year - it really is a great place for kids (and parents). My 2xDS wouldn't let us leave without agreeing that we'd go back

Linus33 · 15/08/2014 07:52

Sorry cross-post. Well said westcountrywoman

ThatBloodyWoman · 15/08/2014 07:54

I wouldn't go.
No way -it'd feel more like a round of Russian Roulette than a holiday.

Original poster

MyballsareSandy · 15/08/2014 07:57

I decided not to go, I do believe it will be fine by Monday having read up on the virus, but one of my DDs has a sick phobia and I doubt very much we would get her down there. We've managed to get into a site near Croyde.

River Dart Country Park were fabulous on the phone, complete refund, no quibbles. The park is a fantastic place which we have visited lots of times, such a shame that this has hit them in peak holiday time and I hope it doesn't affect future business.

OP posts:

Ineedmorepatience · 15/08/2014 19:21

Wow! What a shame for RDCP and all the people who have been affected

It really is a great site and it is great to hear that they have been proactive in dealing with the outbreak!

I hope you have a great time in Croyde myballs

FlipFlopWaddle · 16/08/2014 07:56

I'm going to play devils advocate here - I don't think it's fair to necessarily blame a family, anyone can come down with a bug suddenly, who's to say that they weren't half way through their holiday when one of them got sick, they'd have no choice other than to use the facilities the poor things! We don't know the circumstances, obviously if it was one of my children I'd go home immediately and clean up as best I could but it could happen to anyone. (Of course they may have come onto the site knowing full well they were sick, which is inexcusable )

OhYouBadBadKitten · 16/08/2014 08:33

Agreed flip flop. We once went down with a bug at a big campsite in France. It was hideous but we could have picked it up anywhere.
It could also have been a member of staff working in a cafe.

Linus33 · 16/08/2014 18:04

Totally agree but the source must have been external i.e. a guest or a staff member. The virus couldn't have originated from the park itself. And yes, it was awful :( and I'm sure we weren't the worst affected. Hope everyone is now well.

DoristheCamel · 20/08/2014 13:43

I agree that it's unfair to blame someone or accuse them if being irresponsible by turning up with the virus. I doubt there are many with a vomiting family member who would think going camping still sounded like fun.

I am away camping in Norfolk at the moment and 3 hours after arriving on site my Dd who had been perfectly well and excited all day travelling and putting up the tent started vomiting. It was an awful 24 hours for her and a tense couple of days waiting to see if anyone else in our party would be affected. Thankfully not but it wasnot something we could have anticipated happening until it did. I cleaned up after her the best I could even taking bleach and disinfectant to the toilet block.

Flip