E.coli girl fit for closed school

Courtney Grainger was one of the first victims of E.coli

Parents of one of the first victims of E.coli were given the all-clear to send their daughter back to school on the day it was closed because of the bug.

Courtney Gardiner, five, from Fernhill Estate in Glenboi near Mountain Ash had been ill for nearly three weeks after contracting the bacteria.

It is suspected that she developed the illness after eating cold meat at her school, Glenboi Primary.

The school closed on Friday after bloody diarrhoea was found in toilets.

Her parents, David and Debbie, received a letter on Friday saying Courtney was fit to return to school - but by then it had been closed following the discovery that an unidentified boy had the bug.

On Tuesday, a child from another south Wales valley had died from the bug.

Five-year-old Mason Jones from Bargoed had been ill for more than a week before he died and the tragedy suffered by his family haunts parents throughout south Wales, including the Gardiners.

The majority of children on the Fernhill estate go to Glenboi school

"It has been hugely worrying for the whole family," explained Mrs Gardiner, who has also been ill with E.coli which she caught from her daughter.

"She has been so ill and she is still isn't right - she is very pale.

"It started a few weeks back, she came home from school after winning an award and became ill that night."

Following a weekend of sickness and diarrhoea, Mrs Gardiner realised on the Monday how grave her daughter's illness was.

"She was bent over double in pain and I knew then it was far more serious than a 48-hour thing," explained her mother.

"It was absolutely awful, she was so ill and we were desperately worried," said Mrs Gardiner.

"It was horrible, she was so weak and she is only just starting to get back to her normal self although she is still very pale."

Courtney Gardiner suffered severe sickness and diarrhoea

Mr Gardiner has mixed feelings about how the outbreak has been handled.

"I think the school have done the right thing in closing, but I also think that there wasn't enough done right at the beginning from the authorities.

"At the end of the day, we could have lost our little girl," he said.

Mrs Gardiner said she hoped the authorities would soon identify the boy whose illness prompted the school closure

"I just hope they find him soon because I couldn't stand to see another child as ill as Courtney was," she said.

"We are all so thankful that she is ok now especially after that poor little boy died. It is awful," she added.

The school has been closed as a precaution

Courtney is one of 97 pupils who go to Glenboi Primary School.

The majority of the children live on the Fernhill Estate just a few minutes walk away..

It was closed on Friday following a deep clean at the school on Thursday night and will remain closed until the identity of the ill child is known.

Fernhill estate is just a mile from Mountain Ash town centre. It has an active community centre, residents association, a shop and the school to serve people living in more than 200 homes.

But on Friday, as health officials took the decision to close the school, the estate was quiet. One mother, who did not want to be named, said: "People are scared especially after that little boy died.

"Everyone is worried about their children and people are keeping them home."

A total of 156 people in 42 schools have fallen ill through the E.coli infection.