Essex: A routine delivery in the UK took a dangerous turn after an Amazon driver followed GPS directions onto a tidal route, forcing them to abandon their van as rising waters cut off escape, the New York Post reported.
According to UK coast guard officials, the driver drove into flooding on Sunday while attempting to reach Foulness Island, an area owned by the Ministry of Defence and used for weapons testing. The route in question — the Broomway — is a centuries-old tidal path that is not meant for vehicles and is considered highly hazardous.
Authorities said the driver mistakenly followed navigation instructions along the roughly six-mile route, which is normally passable only on foot and only under expert g
uidance. The coast guard noted that while no deaths have been recorded in recent times, at least 100 people are believed to have drowned over the centuries while attempting to cross the path.
“The Broomway route is not for vehicles and should only be walked on with a guide who knows the mud flats,” officials said in a statement.
“It is an extremely dangerous area and is on MOD property only free to access when the firing ranges are not active and barrier is open.”
In a statement to the Telegraph, Amazon said it is investigating the incident.
Last year, A traveller journeying from Buxar to Delhi recounted their harrowing experience on social media, detailing how blind faith in the mapping service nearly led to disaster.
The incident involved an individual who followed Google Maps’ directions, which led them off the highway and onto an unpaved road. They continued along the route until they reached the edge of a pond, where the navigation system astonishingly instructed them to proceed straight into the water. Fortunately, the traveller realised the peril in time and avoided driving into the pond.