An Amazon delivery driver became trapped in 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 in Essex, dubbed “the deadliest path in Britain”.
The vehicle was travelling towards Foulness Island, four miles from Southend, which is mostly closed to the public because the Ministry of Defence uses it for weapons testing.
The driver followed the satnav’s instructions across an ancient six-mile walking path into the Thames Estuary on Saturday night.
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.
Foulness churchyard has seen 66 victims laid to rest 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, making the path unclear to those unfamiliar.
It was the only way to get across to Foulness Island before a bridge was built in the 20th century.
The Amazon van became trapped in the rising tide
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BBC
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”.
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.
“The Broomway route is not for vehicles and should only be walked on with a guide who knows the mud flats.
“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.
The Broomway is a dangerous path connecting Great Wakering to Foulness Island in Essex
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GETTY
“The correct route onto Foulness Island is via the left barrier via Qinetiq security office”.
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 on Saturday.
The delivery driver had removed themselves from the van and reported the incident to Amazon, who in turn arranged with a local farmer to extract the vehicle on Sunday.
The coastguard later confirmed that the van had been collected at 3.30pm on Sunday.
The path 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.
Other areas of the UK feature equally dangerous causeways, including Lindisfarne, or Holy Island, off the northeast coast of Northumberland, cut off from the mainland twice a day by fast-moving, high-tide waters – making it accessible only at specific hours.
A three-mile causeway links the island to the mainland village of Beal, where much like in Southend, it is essential for visitors to check official safe crossing times to avoid getting stranded.
