Southampton grandad's garden filled with 'horrible' sewage

Colin Simmons said his Regents Park back garden was filled with nappies, human waste, used condoms and other filth after a torrential rain hit Southampton on Sunday evening.

The next morning, when the 80-year-old got up and went to his garden, he found the sewage had spilled from a manhole and filled his garden.

READ MORE: Southern Water miss another key sewage meeting in Hampshire

The dad of four has battled with lung cancer for two and half years and is now undergoing chemotherapy, meaning he has a weakened immune system.

He feels he can no longer enjoy his garden in fear he gets sick from the bacteria festering there.

He said: “If I catch something which takes me out, then that’s it from me. I can’t afford to catch anything otherwise it might kill me.”

Sewage taken in Colin's back garden (Image: Colin Simmons)

To make matters worse, he turned 80 on Monday and was supposed to host a BBQ for his family - but it had to be cancelled after the nightmare.

Speaking to the Echo, the grandad of 13 said: “I woke up on Monday morning and thought I could smell something.

“It was an absolute wet mess. There were wipes, filthy baby nappies, condoms and other things.

“Anything you can think of it was all over it. It was horrible, you could smell it in the house.”

He called Southern Water on Monday and was told that they would pass the message on and that someone would be there in 48 hours.

The sewage in Colin's back garden (Image: Newsquest, Jose Ramos)

On Tuesday, after not hearing anything back, Colin called again and was told the team would be informed.

On Wednesday, an engineer attended but the pensioner was told the issue may not come from the main sewers, which are Southern Water’s responsibility, and that he may have to hire someone himself to clean the mess.

However, his neighbour - who happened to be Southampton City Councillor John Savage - has been helping Colin to get the issue sorted, as he believed it was Southern Water’s responsibility.

He said: “I called them and basically told them because of the health complications he is suffering from, Colin should be treated with urgency. Their response has been slow but that seemed to get them to act."

He added: “If it was Colin’s sewer that was blocked, then every time he would flush the toilet the water would not flow. This is coming from the main sewer and it’s clear that Southern Water needs to take responsibility.”

Colin told the Echo: “Their response has been completely and utterly insulting. The fact it has taken them so long to come to me, especially with my health condition, I would think they would prioritize me.”

Southern Water said yesterday evening: "Our teams attended the customer’s property today, Wednesday 3 April, and have rectified the issue in his garden this afternoon.

"We apologise for the disruption and any distress this has caused Mr Simmons.”