Two women sank into the same mud trap near Lyngby Sø within weeks of each other, yet the local municipality has still not committed to permanent safety fixes even though one runner needed ten hospital stitches.
Emma Rensvik was jogging around Lyngby Sø about a month ago when the ground vanished beneath her. She plunged into what TV 2 describes as a “bottomless” marsh ditch, while the municipality itself warns that ditches along the path are “almost bottomless” and tells people to stay on the trail. She climbed out covered in mud and blood, requiring ten stitches and leaving her in significant pain.
Shortly before TV 2 published the story, Eva Fjellerup fell into the same trap. She sank up to her neck in mud and had to be pulled free. As reported by TV 2, Fjellerup said she was shaken that the route remained open to all users.
Municipality inspecting, not closing
Lyngby-Taarbæk Kommune says it is now monitoring the area and will decide later whether extra safety measures are needed. According to operations manager Allan Jørholm, users have been repeatedly reminded to exercise caution and stay on marked paths. The authority also notes that stretches can be wetter than before.
That response means the dangerous section stayed open even after at least two people reported sinking. The municipality gave its answer in writing, not in an interview. It has not announced a closure, a fixed timeline for repairs, or any formal danger zone.
Warning sign already in place
A sign beside the path warns that the ditch is bottomless and tells people to stay on the trail. But both women say the path itself disappeared under water and mud. Rensvik told TV 2 she will not return unless the municipality builds a bridge or other fix.
The lake water level was recently raised by seven to eight centimeters, according to Lyngby-Taarbæk Kommune, which the TV 2 report suggests may have worsened the marsh edge. A change of that kind can make a soggy path far more hazardous than it appears. For recreational hiking trails and running routes, cases like this raise the question of whether local authorities move fast enough when natural conditions shift.
Who carries the risk
Many Danish municipalities manage popular paths as semi-natural spaces rather than paved urban promenades. This approach is often seen as placing more responsibility on users to move according to conditions, or as the Danish phrase puts it, to færdes efter forholdene. In practice, that means recognizing when a path looks passable but may not be.
The problem arises when a marked path hides a deep mud pit. Both runners say they were following what they believed was the designated route, not deliberately wandering off-trail or ignoring warning signs. One ended up needing medical care; the other barely escaped.
No firm decision yet
Lyngby-Taarbæk Kommune says inspection is under way. It has not said whether that will lead to barriers, boardwalks, closure, or simply updated signage. For now, the municipality’s position is that the area can be crossed safely if people stay on paths and exercise care.
That stance leaves recreational users in a wait-and-see position. The marsh near Lyngby Sø remains accessible, the warning sign stays in place, and no additional barrier stops anyone from attempting the crossing. Whether that balance between access and safety holds will depend on what the municipality decides after its review finishes.
For anyone planning to use the route, the immediate advice is to watch for flooded sections and avoid stepping onto surfaces that look waterlogged. The story illustrates how quickly a path can become hazardous when water levels change, sometimes faster than official signage catches up. Users who feel at risk should contact Lyngby-Taarbæk Kommune directly, as no English-language safety notice or reporting form is currently referenced by the authority.
