{"id":160878,"date":"2026-02-23T13:35:27","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T13:35:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/?p=160878"},"modified":"2026-02-25T08:15:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T08:15:04","slug":"docudrama-explores-the-important-legacy-of-heather-preen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/2026\/02\/23\/docudrama-explores-the-important-legacy-of-heather-preen\/","title":{"rendered":"Docudrama explores the important legacy of Heather Preen"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t\t\n\t<p>A powerful new Channel 4 factual drama\u00a0series\u00a0on water pollution\u00a0is bringing the\u00a0death\u00a0of eight-year-old Heather Preen back into the national conversation, more than 25 years after\u00a0she contracted\u00a0E.coli\u00a0while on holiday with her family in Devon.<\/p>\n<p>Heather&#8217;s mum, Julie Maughan is a long-standing supporter of Kidney Research UK. Two years ago,\u00a0we helped Julie assess whether to work with the producers on the\u00a0series\u00a0&#8211;\u00a0and\u00a0ahead of its release, she spoke\u00a0with\u00a0us to reflect on the long journey that has led to this moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In 1999 young Heather Preen contracted an E.coli infection while playing on a Devon beach,\u202fwhich led to a type of severe kidney damage. Within two weeks she had suffered irreversible brain damage and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/living-with-kidney-disease\/kidney-failure\/\">kidney failure<\/a> and her parents had to make the heartbreaking decision to switch off her life support machine.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Airing on Monday,\u00a0Dirty Business\u00a0features\u00a0the\u00a0horrific\u00a0story of how Heather\u00a0suddenly and\u00a0shockingly\u00a0lost her life.\u00a0The family&#8217;s devastation forms the\u00a0overall backdrop to\u00a0the\u00a0three-part\u00a0series,\u00a0in which\u00a0two\u00a0Cotswolds residents (played by David Thewlis and Jason Watkins) take on\u00a0the might\u00a0of the UK&#8217;s water industry to\u00a0campaign\u00a0against\u00a0the illegal dumping of raw sewage.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Heather-at-the-beach-three-pics-1.png\" alt=\"Heather, wearing a baseball cap and red tshirt, licking an ace cream, sitting on the beach\" height=\"708\" width=\"450\" title=\"Heather Preen at the beach\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Heather-at-the-beach-three-pics-1.png\" alt=\"Heather, wearing a baseball cap and red tshirt, licking an ace cream, sitting on the beach\" height=\"708\" width=\"450\" title=\"Heather Preen at the beach\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/noscript>\n\t\t<figcaption>Heather at the beach<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\t<h2>Heather&#8217;s kidney story<\/h2>\n<p>Heather experienced a type of <a id=\"menurik\" title=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/haemolytic-uraemic-syndrome\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/haemolytic-uraemic-syndrome\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Link haemolytic uraemic syndrome\">haemolytic uraemic syndrome<\/a> known as STEC-HUS, a form of kidney failure triggered by an aggressive strain of\u00a0E.coli. STEC-HUS\u00a0remains\u00a0one of the most serious complications of infection in children, with limited treatment options once it develops.<\/p>\n<p>While most children recover from common infections, rare cases like Heather&#8217;s show how quickly illness can escalate. In STEC-HUS, toxins released by bacteria damage blood vessels in the kidneys, leading to <a id=\"menurim\" title=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/acute-kidney-injury\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/acute-kidney-injury\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Link acute kidney injury\">acute kidney injury<\/a> and, in some cases, irreversible failure.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This documentary does not hold any punches whatsoever,&#8221; Julie said.\u00a0&#8220;The first episode looks closely at Heather&#8217;s\u00a0story\u00a0and it still makes me cry, but it&#8217;s how it really was for us.&#8221;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Viewers may find the vivid\u00a0depiction of what happened to Heather a tough watch but, for Julie,\u00a0that is the point.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;When I talked to the producers\u00a0before filming started, I told them, you need to get people to understand Heather&#8217;s death was not nice. No death is nice,\u00a0I\u00a0understand that. But she died a painful, horrific\u00a0death. They really did capture that, and the ferocity and speed of it as well.\u00a0People need\u00a0to understand these pathogens\u00a0causes diseases that\u00a0there&#8217;s\u00a0no cure for\u00a0and people are still at risk.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Julie says\u00a0it&#8217;s\u00a0been difficult reliving\u00a0what happened:\u00a0&#8220;It&#8217;s\u00a0horrible, but I always come back to&#8230;. What would Heather tell me to do?\u00a0I&#8217;m\u00a0very proud\u00a0to be a part of something that is so amazing.\u00a0I&#8217;m\u00a0proud for Heather to be a part of this&#8230;\u00a0it&#8217;s\u00a0a good piece of work.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n\t<h2>Why this matters now\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p>The release of Dirty Business &#8211; airing from 23-25 February on Channel 4 &#8211; comes amid renewed public concern about water quality and environmental accountability.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Julie has spent years preserving documentation from the inquest and outbreak investigation, working to ensure the facts surrounding Heather&#8217;s death remain part of the public record. The series brings that history to a new generation.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I keep saying I&#8217;m excited, and I don&#8217;t know if that&#8217;s the right word,&#8221; says Julie, &#8220;But I am. When you watch something\u00a0really good, that really explores everything that happened, it makes you want to say to your friends, &#8216;You should watch that, it&#8217;s really good.&#8217;\u00a0That&#8217;s\u00a0how I feel.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n\t<h2>A legacy of impact\u00a0<\/h2>\n\t<blockquote><p>&#8220;Julie&#8217;s courage and determination in the face of devastating loss\u00a0is\u00a0extraordinary. For more than 25 years she has ensured that Heather&#8217;s story has not been forgotten.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Heather&#8217;s\u00a0death\u00a0is 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&#8217;s memory.&#8221; \u00a0Sandra Currie, chief executive of Kidney Research UK.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\t<p>Working towards the\u00a0change\u00a0Julie is striving for, Kidney Research UK has\u00a0supported\u00a0research in\u00a0this area.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Most recently, funds raised in Heather&#8217;s memory have contributed to work led by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/2026\/02\/16\/looking-for-new-ways-to-treat-infection-related-kidney-disease-in-children\/\">Dr Patrick Walsh<\/a>, 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Heather-Preen-denim-dress-1-214x500.png\" alt=\"Heather wearing a blue denim dress in the garden on a red trampet.\" height=\"500\" width=\"214\" title=\"Heather Preen\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Heather-Preen-denim-dress-1-214x500.png\" alt=\"Heather wearing a blue denim dress in the garden on a red trampet.\" height=\"500\" width=\"214\" title=\"Heather Preen\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/noscript>\n\t\t<figcaption>Heather Preen<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\t<h2>Hope for the future<\/h2>\n<p>For Julie,\u00a0spending the last two years being involved in the docuseries has been\u00a0about ensuring that Heather&#8217;s death leads to meaningful change. The hope, she explains, is that by telling Heather&#8217;s story fully and honestly, lessons are learned.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve always felt that if Heather&#8217;s story is going to be told, it needs to be told properly,&#8221; she says.\u00a0&#8220;It&#8217;s not easy watching &#8211; it really isn&#8217;t &#8211; but if it means people understand what happened and something changes because of it, then that matters.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><i>Dirty Business starts on Channel 4 on Monday 23 February\u00a0at 9pm.\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Dirty-Business.jpg\" alt=\"Seven people who were involved in the making of the series Dirt Business. They are standing in a line in front of a water fountain in London.\" height=\"1671\" width=\"2048\" title=\"Dirty Business\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Dirty-Business.jpg\" alt=\"Seven people who were involved in the making of the series Dirt Business. They are standing in a line in front of a water fountain in London.\" height=\"1671\" width=\"2048\" title=\"Dirty Business\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/noscript>\n\t\t<figcaption>At the launch event for Dirty Business: L to R\nTom McKay (actor playing Mark, Julie&#8217;s husband), Chris Hines from Surfers Against Sewage, Joe Bullman (director), Julie Maughan, Ash Smith (investigator), Cliff Roney (activist), Peter Hammond (investigator)<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<h2>Fund research to change the future<\/h2>\n\t\t<p>Please consider making a donation if you would like to help\u00a0fund research\u00a0to make a difference\u00a0to families in future.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/support\/donate\/\"  target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDonate now\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A powerful new Channel 4 factual drama\u00a0series\u00a0on water pollution\u00a0is bringing the\u00a0death\u00a0of eight-year-old Heather Preen back into the national conversation, more than 25 years after\u00a0she contracted\u00a0E.coli\u00a0while on holiday with her family in Devon. Heather&#8217;s mum, Julie Maughan is a long-standing supporter of Kidney Research UK. Two years ago,\u00a0we helped Julie assess whether to work with the&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":160882,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-160878","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-patient-stories"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Docudrama explores the important legacy of Heather Preen - Kidney Research UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Channel 4 series on water pollution, highlights the death of eight-year-old Heather Preen, more than 25 years after she contracted E.coli.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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