Lovers Key closed on Labor Day due to suspected water contamination

Reporter: Gail Levy Writer: Jasmine Singletary
Published: Updated:
Lovers Key
(CREDIT: WINK News)

The Lovers Key State Park beach has been closed to swimming because the Health Department thinks the water there is contaminated with fecal matter.

The latest test shows that the water is not contanimated.

WINK News found out how closing the beach on Labor Day is affecting beachgoers.

A “You-Gov” survey found just 11% of the workforce is working on this labor day, but no one could enjoy the beach at Lovers Key.

Carla Chirillo, visiting from Orlando said, “It’s a shame that it’s closed on labor day you know it is.”

Chirillo made the haul down from Orlando thinking Lovers Key would be the place to be.

A spokesperson from the Florida Department of Health said, “A material that was possibly fecal matter washed ashore.”

Toby Khamsouk didn’t see the signs posted about the beach being closed and ran into a ranger who turned him away.

Lovers Key
Signs posted on Lovers Key State Park beach (CREDIT: WINK News)

“I was running down towards the beach and then I got turned around, and I was like awh that’s a bummer. I wasn’t planning on swimming anyway but I was just gonna go for a run,” Khamsouk said.

Khamsouk was visiting from California. He and everyone else who planned to go to Lovers Key had to change course and go to either Fort Myers Beach or Bonita Beach.

“I look to the left of me and I’m like holy smoke, I said it’s packed down there because you know what the bathrooms are here, showers, barbecues,” Chirillo said.

Once the state determines what washed ashore they’ll be able to determine how long Lovers Key will be closed or if it can open again immediately.

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