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Kayaker paddles full length of flooded road

Oli Jordan Oli Jordan has a beard, he is in a kayak and taking a selfie while smiling at the camera. He is wearing a beanie hat and a coat.Oli Jordan
Oli Jordan, 38, has lived on Mersea Island for most of his life

A watersports enthusiast said he managed to kayak the length of a flooded road close to his island home for the first time.

Oli Jordan, 38, has lived on Mersea Island, Essex, for most of his life and has paddled over The Strood, the only road on and off the island, a number of times.

The road frequently floods, making it impassable to road traffic, but Mr Jordan said last Sunday was the first time he had been able to paddle its length, thanks to a particularly high tide.

He has regularly taken groups of kayakers over the flooded road, but said: "We wouldn't suggest doing it on your own."

Oli Jordan Oli Jordan has a beard, he is in a kayak and taking a selfie in front of road signs while smiling at the camera. He is wearing a beanie hat and a coat. Oli Jordan
Mr Jordan took a selfie in his kayak on the flooded road

Mr Jordan posted a video online of him kayaking over The Strood during what he said was a 6.1m (20ft) tide.

In it, he said: "So, I've managed to paddle the whole of the road connecting Mersea to the mainland - The Strood, as we call it.

"I've never been able to paddle this far on it. It has been reported as a huge tide."

Mr Jordan, a kayak, canoe and paddleboard coach, said he founded East of England Paddlesports in 2017 to connect with like-minded people.

"I started this club to make some friends and now I have thousands of them," he said.

The club is affiliated with Paddle UK and Mr Jordan said: "We have a good safety track record."

Neil Theasby/Geograph.org A single white car can be seen driving along a fenced causeway above tidal mudflats.Neil Theasby/Geograph.org
The Strood is ancient manmade causeway that has linked Mersea Island with the Essex mainland since Roman times

Mr Jordan, who runs the club as his full-time job, with the help of some volunteers, said: "I kayak for a living, but going over a road is quite unique".

He said he had taken a few groups across the flooded road, but added: "We only take competent paddlers and we make sure the cars have stopped on the road."

He said while kayaking, he had sometimes been able to help drivers that had got stranded in the water.

Chris Wood, AA Patrol of the Year, stressed drivers needed to take special care on flooded roads.

"Don't drive into flood water that’s moving or more than 10cm (4in) deep," he said.

"There may be traffic delays so make sure you bring essentials with you on your journey, even if it is only short, such as warm layers, a hot drink and a fully charged mobile phone and make sure you have enough fuel or EV charge to account for any diversions."

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