Docudrama explores the important legacy of Heather Preen
A powerful new Channel 4 factual drama series on water pollution is bringing the death of eight-year-old Heather Preen back into the national conversation, more than 25 years after she contracted E.coli while on holiday with her family in Devon.
Heather’s mum, Julie Maughan is a long-standing supporter of Kidney Research UK. Two years ago, we helped Julie assess whether to work with the producers on the series – and ahead of its release, she spoke with us to reflect on the long journey that has led to this moment.
In 1999 young Heather Preen contracted an E.coli infection while playing on a Devon beach, which led to a type of severe kidney damage. Within two weeks she had suffered irreversible brain damage and kidney failure and her parents had to make the heartbreaking decision to switch off her life support machine.
Airing on Monday, Dirty Business features the horrific story of how Heather suddenly and shockingly lost her life. The family’s devastation forms the overall backdrop to the three-part series, in which two Cotswolds residents (played by David Thewlis and Jason Watkins) take on the might of the UK’s water industry to campaign against the illegal dumping of raw sewage.
Heather’s kidney story
Heather experienced a type of haemolytic uraemic syndrome known as STEC-HUS, a form of kidney failure triggered by an aggressive strain of E.coli. STEC-HUS remains one of the most serious complications of infection in children, with limited treatment options once it develops.
While most children recover from common infections, rare cases like Heather’s show how quickly illness can escalate. In STEC-HUS, toxins released by bacteria damage blood vessels in the kidneys, leading to acute kidney injury and, in some cases, irreversible failure.
“This documentary does not hold any punches whatsoever,” Julie said. “The first episode looks closely at Heather’s story and it still makes me cry, but it’s how it really was for us.”
Viewers may find the vivid depiction of what happened to Heather a tough watch but, for Julie, that is the point.
“When I talked to the producers before filming started, I told them, you need to get people to understand Heather’s death was not nice. No death is nice, I understand that. But she died a painful, horrific death. They really did capture that, and the ferocity and speed of it as well. People need to understand these pathogens causes diseases that there’s no cure for and people are still at risk.”
Julie says it’s been difficult reliving what happened: “It’s horrible, but I always come back to…. What would Heather tell me to do? I’m very proud to be a part of something that is so amazing. I’m proud for Heather to be a part of this… it’s a good piece of work.”
Why this matters now
The release of Dirty Business – airing from 23–25 February on Channel 4 – comes amid renewed public concern about water quality and environmental accountability.
Julie has spent years preserving documentation from the inquest and outbreak investigation, working to ensure the facts surrounding Heather’s death remain part of the public record. The series brings that history to a new generation.
“I keep saying I’m excited, and I don’t know if that’s the right word,” says Julie, “But I am. When you watch something really good, that really explores everything that happened, it makes you want to say to your friends, ‘You should watch that, it’s really good.’ That’s how I feel.”
A legacy of impact
“Julie’s courage and determination in the face of devastating loss is extraordinary. For more than 25 years she has ensured that Heather’s story has not been forgotten.
“Heather’s death is a stark reminder that infectious diseases and kidney health intersect with catastrophic consequences that demand immediate attention. We hope this documentary will help drive the awareness, research and commitment needed to protect people, in Heather's memory.” Sandra Currie, chief executive of Kidney Research UK.
Working towards the change Julie is striving for, Kidney Research UK has supported research in this area.
Most recently, funds raised in Heather’s memory have contributed to work led by Dr Patrick Walsh, who is investigating new approaches to treating infection-related kidney disease in children. His research focuses on understanding how severe infections can trigger acute kidney injury and exploring whether targeted therapies could reduce longer-term damage. By studying how the immune response and inflammation affect young kidneys, Patrick hopes to identify new treatment strategies that could improve outcomes for children facing serious infection.
Hope for the future
For Julie, spending the last two years being involved in the docuseries has been about ensuring that Heather’s death leads to meaningful change. The hope, she explains, is that by telling Heather’s story fully and honestly, lessons are learned.
“I’ve always felt that if Heather’s story is going to be told, it needs to be told properly,” she says. “It’s not easy watching – it really isn’t – but if it means people understand what happened and something changes because of it, then that matters.”
Dirty Business starts on Channel 4 on Monday 23 February at 9pm.
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