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A mother has warned others parents not to let their children swim in the Grand Canal because her son was infected with a flesh eating bug.

Rachel Sneedon, from Ringsend, Dublin, told 98fm's Adrian Kenny that her child has been hospitalised three times since last Saturday due to the 'dangerous' water.

The worried mum told the 'Dublin Talks' show: "The doctors told him to stay out of the water, that it was absolutely filthy and full of toxins."

She added: "Not every kid will catch the disease, maybe only one out of a hundred people will catch it."

But she stressed that there should be an "outright ban on swimming in the canals," after doctors warned her of the inherent dangers of swimming in the murky waters.

The Dublin mum said that her son was wearing a wet-suit when he picked up the nasty bug and he is in 'serious pain".

Swimming in the canals and River Liffey is considered a Dublin tradition when the good weather is in town.

You can listen to Ms Sneedon's interview on 98fm below.