An Amazon delivery van fell victim to the quickly rising water on the Broomway path yesterday NZT in the Thames Estuary, UK. Photo / Facebook, Your Southend
An Amazon delivery van fell victim to the quickly rising water on the Broomway path yesterday NZT in the Thames Estuary, UK. Photo / Facebook, Your Southend
An Amazon delivery driver in Britain drove into the Thames Estuary after following directions from his satnav.
The driver, whose identity is unknown, was forced to abandon his van in rising waters on a walking path known as the Broomway.
The vehicle was travelling towards Foulness Island, 6.4km from Southend-on-Seain Essex, which is mostly closed to the public because the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence uses it for weapons testing.
The driver followed the satnav’s instructions across an ancient 9.6km “walking” path into the Thames Estuary on Saturday night local time.
It is thought at least 100 people have drowned while trying to cross the Broomway, which is not suitable for vehicles and should only be walked on with a guide who knows the mud flats.
Sixty-six victims lie in Foulness churchyard, and many more have died on the sands over the centuries.
The “brooms”, bundles of sticks and twigs attached to poles, that marked the path for centuries and gave the Broomway its name, have since disappeared.
The Broomway is managed by QinetiQ, a global defence and security company, which describes the area as a “unique right of way, which requires both caution and specialist knowledge to negotiate safely”.
In a statement published on social media today HM Coastguard Southend said: “HM Coastguard Southend 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. Note: The Broomway route is not for vehicles and should only be walked on with a guide who knows the mud flats.
The delivery driver followed satnav onto tricky ground. Photo / Facebook, Your Southend
“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. The correct route onto Foulness Island is via the left barrier via Qinetiq security office.”
The statement added: “HM Coastguard Southend DSO spoke to the Qinetiq security officer who confirmed they were aware of the van and that the passenger and driver had driven on to the mudflats yesterday evening. The delivery driver had removed themselves from the van and reported the incident to Amazon. Amazon have arranged with a local farmer to extract the vehicle this afternoon.”
The coastguard later confirmed that the van had been collected.
The byway is particularly dangerous because the tide comes in faster than most people can run, and swirling mists can leave walkers disorientated.
An Amazon spokesman confirmed it was investigating the incident.
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