An Amazon delivery van had to be recovered after the driver followed a GPS route into an “extremely dangerous” mudflat.
The British Coast Guard received a call on Sunday morning about the incident the night before, according to a Facebook post by the Commissioner of Coastguard Southend.
They said the van entered Broomway, a six-mile stretch of track dating back 600 years that is not intended for vehicular traffic.
The driver was attempting to reach Foulness Island off the east coast of Essex County by “following a GPS route,” according to a Coast Guard Facebook post.
Foulness Island is owned by the UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) and managed by global defense and security company QinetiQ. The correct route to the island where the Pentagon firing range is located is via the barrier by the QinetiQ security office.
“The Broomway route is closed to vehicles and must be walked with a guide who is knowledgeable about the tidal flats,” the Facebook post said.
“It is an extremely dangerous area, located on MOD property and only freely accessible when the firing range is not in use and the fence is open.”
According to guidance available on QinetiQ’s website, Broomway “requires both caution and expertise to negotiate safely.” The website adds that it is illegal to operate motorized or motorized vehicles along the entire length of the Broomway.
“Neither MOD nor QinetiQ accepts any responsibility for the recovery of any vehicle that may be stranded on the beach. This is the sole responsibility of the vehicle owner.”
The driver escaped from the van and reported the incident to Amazon, which was “making arrangements with a local farmer to retrieve the vehicle,” according to a Coast Guard Facebook post.
The Coast Guard added: “The Coast Guard’s primary concerns were the safety of the occupants and the potential for contamination. Once the occupants were found safe and the vehicle was scheduled to be removed later today, the Coast Guard personnel were relieved of duty.”
According to the website of Thames Estuary Man, a local who runs guided walks on the Broomway, the path is “often described as the most dangerous footpath in Britain, with a parish record of 100 drownings”.
“There are areas of very soft mud and if you deviate from the path you could come across unexploded ordnance. The currents here are fast and don’t always come from the direction you expect so caution is essential,” he added.
“The driver is safe and the van was recovered,” an Amazon spokesperson told CNN, adding that the company is “investigating” the incident.
