British beachgoers issued warning as toxic rotting seaweed littering UK seasides

Beachgoers hoping to enjoy the final days of summer on the gorgeous Kent coast have been warned that a slimy tide is emitting hazardous fumes.

Coastal areas ranging from Minnis Bay to Broadstairs have experienced the accumulation of more than 1,000 tonnes of seaweed over a span of a month, reports The Sun.

Owen Francomb, a resident of Margate, took a stroll with his dog Gertie on a beach at Newgate Gap. However, his French Bulldog had to be rescued as she started sinking into the dense sludge.

Owen told The Guardian: “She couldn’t move. So I scrambled down the slipway and jumped down onto the beach, expecting the seaweed to be a foot deep, but it came up to my belt. I really struggled to wade through it.”

A concerned dog walker rushed to the rescue, helping the distressed duo to step out of the noxious seaweed.

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Authorities have spent an astonishing £65,000 to clean up the slime, however, the task remains unfinished.

Certain regions, due to the presence of chalk reefs, are known as marine conservation zones, rendering them untouchable.

While an increase in seaweed during this season is anticipated, specialists have verified that the quantity amassed on these shorelines surpasses the typical accumulation.

Amy Cook, founder of the community initiative Rise Up Clean Up Margate, told The Guardian: "This year the smell of seaweed has hung over the whole town, which does not usually happen.”

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The health warning is due to gas that rotting seaweed releases called hydrogen sulphide, which can be harmful to both marine life and humans.

Dr Brian Lapointe, a researcher of the area, said the hydrogen sulphide is a “real issue” and “people need to take precautions if they’re living in an area with those odours”.

He said: “The gas can affect the electronics in your house because it forms sulphuric acid. In the Caribbean, where Sargassum seaweed has been such a problem, people have lost electronic appliances: air conditioners, all kinds of things.”

Guidelines set out by the Government say that prolonged exposure to rotting seaweed can cause breathing problems, eye irritation and headaches.

Local councils have recommended that windows should be kept shut and doors closed should they smell the risky scent.

Other destinations, like Dorset and Weymouth, are struggling with toxic tides too, as children have been caught in the seaweed and the scent is putting off visitors.

But the council has decided to leave the rotting weeds to "preserve the integrity of the ecosystem", claiming that it is vital for sea creatures and benefits marine life.