A couple embarked on a 630-mile coastal trek, sleeping in a tent along the way, in a story that echoes s new film, The Salt Path.

Andy Ault and Jo Hawes, both 57, were made homeless on September 15, 2023, when their Essex home rent increased from £500 to £750 per month, a cost they couldn't meet as Andy was on universal credit and Jo worked as a sales assistant.

After a no-fault eviction led to Andy suffering heart failure and Jo quitting her job, they decided to walk the Devon-to-Cornwall portion of the Salt Path, from Saltash to Newquay, over 297 days. Despite Andy still recovering from heart failure, they chose this path rather than living with friends or in a tent in Essex, hoping to secure a home in the south west where they had always wanted to live.

They began their journey on November 22, 2023, and spent nearly a year pitching their tent each night along the route. Their perseverance paid off when they were given a permanent home in Newquay, Cornwall, by the council on February 14, 2025.

Their tale mirrors The Salt Path, a memoir about a homeless couple who walked the same trail, which has been adapted into a film due for release on April 25. Andy, hailing from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, openly shared his emotional struggles during his strenuous trek: "I would be in tears [during the trek], saying 'I can't do this anymore.'".

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His partner Jo would respond with a mix of humour and tough love: "Jo would say 'stop whingeing.'" The couple supported each other through thick and thin, ensuring they stayed positive: "We would pick each other up - we had to stay happy."

Their enchantment with the picturesque south west, particularly Cornwall, was not influenced by popular culture: "We hadn't heard of the book or film - we just loved the look of the south west - Cornwall, especially."

In a frightening event in autumn 2023, Andy experienced a sudden health scare while Jo was a mere five minutes away at work. Feeling unstable and eventually collapsing, Jo rushed to help him.

After a quick visit to their GP and an ECG test, Andy received an urgent referral to Southend University Hospital. The hospital's consultants discovered that Andy's heart failure was due to a malfunctioning valve operating at only 40% capacity.

Andy was sent home on beta blockers with an operation advised to take place soon: "He was so poorly, he'd go to bed at night and feel like he was going to fade away."

While waiting for his surgery, they ventured towards the southwest, determined to escape the prospect of "living in a tent" back in Southend. Initially settling with a friend in St. Mellion, Saltash, Cornwall, they contributed £100-a-month to make use of his spare room.

After exploring Cornwall towns like Bude, Newquay and Looe on day trips, the couple decided to embark on a journey along the Devon-to-Cornwall section of the Salt Path, living out of a tent. In November 2023, they spent their last £100 and embarked on a 297-day adventure down the Salt Path.

Throughout their expedition, Andy and Jo braved Storm Isha, winter , and even had sea water lapping at their tent. In the early stages, Andy could barely take 10 steps with his backpack without needing to rest. They planned their route around stops where they could refill Andy's heart medication.

Despite the hardships, Andy says they kept posting on their joint account, @blokeblokester555, for motivation.

"We would post on Instagram daily, as a way of self-helping," he added. "When I started, I struggled to walk. It got to a point where I was able to say: 'Here I am, walking the coastal path, with a heavy rucksack!'".

As 2024 drew to a close, Andy and Jo were searching for a place to pitch their tent in Falmouth, Cornwall. Due to concerns about Andy's heart condition, council workers directed them to The Salvation Army for breakfast and assistance.

The couple received help with washing and drying clothes and were referred to another local organisation, Health for Homeless, for a health check-up. Andy's blood tests revealed alarmingly high levels of potassium, indicating an imminent heart attack. "If we'd still been on the coastal path I could have been [having a heart attack] in the middle of nowhere. So, we count our blessings," he said.

The Salvation Army stepped in to provide temporary accommodation at a hotel in St. Austell, Cornwall, ensuring they were safe and warm for the winter. On 2025, which also happens to be Andy's birthday, the council presented them with keys to their new, permanent home.

"Andy seems to be doing a lot better now he's on different medication," Jo shared. The couple noted the "similarities" between their journey and The Salt Path memoir.

Andy recalled: "Jo bought the book for 50p at a charity shop - by the time we'd reached St. Keverne, she'd finished it. Jo would be reading bits of it at night, in the tent with her head-torch on. I'd have to tell her to turn it off - but she'd want to show me passages from it all the time.

"I think some of it's a bit far-fetched - even though we've lived the real thing. We left the book at a pub in St. Keverne, and signed it: 'The real Salt Path."

Karen Thomas, commanding officer at The Salvation Army, Falmouth, said: "We're so glad Andy and Jo found us when they did and that we were able to help with immediate practical support. We're seeing an increasing number of people walk through our doors who are forced to live on the streets or in precarious accommodation.

"While not everyone's back-story gets turned into a book and film, we know that anyone can become homeless whether through no fault evictions, family break-ups, illness or addiction, or job loss. Everyone should have access to a stable and affordable home. and no one should be sleeping on the streets."