Westcliff mum has hip replacement after trip over fly-tipped metal

Samantha Hurst, 53, was taken to hospital by ambulance after tripping over the rubbish in the dark on the corner of Westborough Road and Brightwell Avenue. 

The incident, which took place last Wednesday, has left Samantha in agony and facing months without work and her family furious over the dumped fly-tipping. 

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Samantha broke her femur as well as damaging her hip, leading to her having an emergency replacement.  

Her mum, Lavinia Moore, said: “Someone left them horizontal and as it was dark, she hasn’t seen them, and gone completely over after tripping her foot.

Incident - Fly-tipped metal bars in Westcliff (Image: Newsquest)
“She landed on her left side, and immediately said to her son, she can’t move and began screaming.

“Neighbours came out and covered her in blankets, whilst waiting for an ambulance.

“The hospital confirmed she had broken her femur, and said she needs to undergo an emergency hip replacement, which has been successful.

“I can’t comprehend why anyone would leave that there?

“We are both self-employed, so aren’t working, and it’ll be a minimum of 12 weeks.

“Christmas has gone out the window, everything is cancelled.”

Lavinia is hoping Samantha will be taken home from hospital to recover at home, however, the incident has left the family traumatised.

She added: “She is traumatised by it. She hasn’t stopped crying. She is super fit, works out several times a week, for this to happen is awful.

“We are all in shock. I am speechless over it. For our family it is catastrophic.

“I would like to get the culprits in front of us to find out why you would do that. We get flytipping everywhere, always cleaning up around there, trying to keep it tidy.

“It is just shocking and awful.”

Southend Council has been contacted for comment over the fly-tipping.