RFK Jr sparks health warning after posting pictures from hike
Share this @internewscast.com

Robert F. Kennedy Junior has shared pictures of himself and his grandchildren swimming in a DC creek that is contaminated with feces.

Officials have issued warnings that Rock Creek, which is utilized to drain surplus sewage and stormwater during periods of heavy rainfall, is heavily contaminated with E.coli and other harmful bacteria.

But the Health Secretary, 71, still took a dip in it with his grandchildren this Mother’s Day, apparently unaware of the danger.

He shared photos of the swim online, showing himself in the water with his jeans on and, at one point, fully submerged.

His grandchildren paddled in the water nearby, and one was photographed splashing him with the water.

The National Park Service, responsible for overseeing the Creek, cautions online: ‘Rock Creek contains high levels of bacteria and other infectious agents that pose a health risk to humans engaging in swimming, wading, or any contact with the water.

‘Please protect yourself and your pooches by staying on trails and out of the creek.’

It adds in the advisory: ‘All District waterways are subject to a swim ban — this means wading, too!’

Robert F Kennedy Junior is pictured above in Rock Creek, Washington DC, that authorities warn is contaminated with feces

Robert F Kennedy Junior is pictured above in Rock Creek, Washington DC, that authorities warn is contaminated with feces

Above he is shown being splashed with the water by one of his grandchildren

Above he is shown being splashed with the water by one of his grandchildren

Rock Creek, which runs through Dumbarton Oaks Park in the city, has had a swim ban because of the sewage for more than 50 years.

A water sample taken from Rock Creek last September, the latest available data, showed an E.coli concentration of 285 per 100 milliliters.

The World Health Organization suggests that any count over 10 per sample is ‘low risk’, while any over 100 is ‘medium risk’. It says it is best for water to contain no E.coli.

The Health Secretary shared images of himself taking the dip on Sunday with the caption: ‘Mother’s Day hike in Dumbarton Oaks Park with Amaryllis, Bobby, Kick and Jackson, and a swim with my grandchildren, Bobcat and Cassius, in Rock Creek.’

His post on X has since had a warning placed onto it, which reads: ‘Swimming in Rock Creek is dangerous and prohibited by the National Park Service, as the creek contains dangerously high bacteria levels.’

Some followers were quick to point out that the water around DC is dangerous and can be contaminated with bacteria.

But others heralded him for taking a dip, and applauded his ‘healthy and happy family’.

DailyMail.com has contacted the White House for comment.

People can catch E.coli from contaminated water by swallowing it while swimming or drinking the water.

Symptoms appear within two to eight days of infection, and begin as severe stomach cramps, watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and a mild fever.

RFK Junior is shown above fully submerging himself in the water

RFK Junior is shown above fully submerging himself in the water

In rare cases, the infection can cause dehydration and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is when small red blood cells become damaged, inflamed and form clots in the bloodstream. This can cause the kidneys to shut down.

The infection is treated using antibiotics and an IV drip to replace lost fluids.

About 73,000 Americans are infected with E.coli every year, although this is commonly linked to consuming food contaminated with the bacteria.

An estimated 2,168 people are hospitalized, while 61 people die from the infection. 

It’s just the latest in a series of peculiar incidents related to RFK’s outdoors personality.

Previously, his family members have said RFK decapitated a whale carcass in 1994 after its body washed up on a beach near Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.

His daughter Kick told Town and Country magazine in 2012: ‘[He] ran down to the beach with a chainsaw, cut off the whale’s head and then bungee-corded it to the roof of the family minivan for the five-hour haul back to Mount Kisco, New York.’

She added: ‘Every time we accelerated on the highway, whale juice would pour into the windows of the car, and it was the rankest thing on the planet.’

RFK has also recounted how he once dumped a dead bear cub in New York’s Central Park in 2014.

And on the campaign trail, the then-Presidential hopeful told crowds how he had a dead worm lodged in his brain. 

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Urgent Safety Alert: Jetstar Grounds Fleet for Critical Global Upgrades

Jetstar has acknowledged disruptions to several of its flights in light of…

Trump Halts Asylum Decisions Following National Guard Attack

The Trump administration has implemented a temporary halt on asylum decisions across…

Bomb Threat Prompts Ground Stop at Philadelphia Airport, Disrupting Operations

A bomb threat led to the suspension of all outgoing flights from…

Top Aide to Zelensky Resigns Following Home Investigation

In a significant development, Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, has…

Exclusive: Politician Breaks Silence on Burka Controversy in Parliament Interview with Jenny Johnston

What a sight. It’s no surprise that the image quickly became a…

Massive 1,200-Mile Snowstorm Set to Blanket US with Up to 18 Inches of Snow

A colossal winter storm, stretching nearly 1,200 miles across the northern United…

Melania Trump Unveils Exciting New Movie Project and Business Venture in Exclusive Teaser

In a bold move that caught both Hollywood and Washington off guard,…

Trump Sparks Controversy with Offensive Remarks Against Tim Walz and Ilhan Omar

In a fiery late-night post on Thanksgiving, Donald Trump unleashed a barrage…

Trump Considers Pardon for Former Honduran President Convicted of Drug Trafficking: A Controversial Move

President Donald Trump has announced his intention to grant a pardon to…

Fugitive Football Coach Travis Turner on the Run: Leaves Home Armed, Authorities Report

The unsettling case of Travis Turner, a high school football coach, has…

New Image Unveils Harrowing Details of National Guard ‘Terror Attack

An intense photograph captured the critical moments as law enforcement officers raced…

Tragic Incident: Cheerleader’s Life Lost in Cruise Ship Confrontation

Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old cheerleader, tragically lost her life under harrowing circumstances…