Amazon Delivery Van Trapped on Notorious 'Deadliest Path' in Essex After GPS Navigation Failure
An Amazon delivery van became hopelessly stuck on dangerous mudflats and was caught by the rising tide after its driver followed a GPS route onto a perilous footpath known as The Broomway in Great Wakering, Essex. Coastguard teams were urgently dispatched this morning following reports of the stranded vehicle on this historic pathway, which has earned a grim reputation as one of Britain's most hazardous routes.
GPS Guidance Leads to Treacherous Terrain
The driver had been attempting to navigate from Southend-on-Sea to Foulness Island using satellite navigation technology, which inexplicably directed the vehicle onto The Broomway. This six-mile footpath stretches across flat sands into the Thames Estuary and traverses Ministry of Defence firing range territory. Described by experts as "the deadliest pathway in Britain," The Broomway is believed to have claimed over 100 lives in centuries past, with the last recorded fatality occurring in 1919.
The pathway presents extreme dangers as it periodically disappears and reappears with tidal movements, creating treacherous conditions that have prompted authorities to strongly advise against attempting the route without an experienced guide. The coastguard team responding to the incident emphasized that this area represents "an extremely dangerous area" completely unsuitable for vehicular traffic.
Rescue Operation and Vehicle Recovery
Amazon confirmed awareness of the situation and initiated an investigation into how their delivery vehicle ended up on the prohibited pathway. Fortunately, the driver managed to escape from the van unharmed and reported the incident to Amazon officials. The company subsequently arranged for the vehicle's extraction with assistance from a local farmer, with the van later being lifted from the Thames Estuary waters back onto secure land.
HM Coastguard Southend-on-Sea detailed their response: "We were called out this morning to reports that an Amazon Delivery Van had driven via Wakering Stairs onto The Broomway, which is a 600-year-old six-mile 'walking' path out into the Thames Estuary, following a GPS route to take it onto Foulness Island."
Pathway Management and Safety Warnings
The Broomway is currently managed by global defence and security company QinetiQ, which describes it as "a unique right of way which requires both caution and specialist knowledge to negotiate safely." The company explicitly warns that the route is "not way-marked nor maintained for vehicles" and consists of soft, wet mud rather than firm sand. Furthermore, QinetiQ states that driving motorized or electric vehicles along the full length of The Broomway constitutes illegal activity.
Coastguard officials emphasized proper navigation procedures: "The correct route onto Foulness Island is via the left barrier via Qinetiq security office. The Broomway route is not for vehicles and should only be walked on with a guide who knows the mudflats. It is an extremely dangerous area and is on MOD property, only free to access when the firing ranges are not active and the barrier is open."
HM Coastguard's primary concerns centered on occupant safety and potential environmental pollution. With confirmation that the driver had safely evacuated and vehicle removal arrangements were in progress, coastguard officers concluded their emergency response. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the limitations of GPS technology when confronted with historically dangerous terrain and the critical importance of heeding local safety advisories.
