Amazon delivery driver ditches van after following GPS into sea, MOD firing range

YOU CAN’T PARK THERE, MATE: One unlucky Amazon driver took “off-road delivery” a bit too literally after following the van’s sat-nav onto Britain’s most dangerous coastal path

An Amazon delivery driver gave “shipping” a whole new meaning, with the motorist finding himself in a prime disaster after following a wonky GPS signal straight into the sea.

The hapless courier ended up bogged down in the treacherous mudflats of The Broomway—a 600-year-old Essex track nicknamed the “Doom Path” for its history of swallowing travelers whole. To top it all off, The Boomway sits on Ministry of Defence land, where the army holds live-fire practice.

The HM Coastguard Southend confirmed it was called to the scene near Great Wakering after reports that the Amazon van was attempting a shortcut to Foulness Island via the watery shallows. The route is notorious for its sinking mud and rapidly rising tides, with parish records showing at least 100 souls have perished on the six-mile stretch of “The Deadman’s Path.”

The Broomway is currently managed by global defence and security company QinetiQ, which describes the path as a “unique right of way which requires both caution and specialist knowledge to negotiate safely”.

A Coastguard spokesperson put it somewhat more simply: The area is “extremely dangerous”

“The 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-years-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. It is an extremley dangerous area and is on MOD property only free to access when the firing ranges are not active and barrier is open.”

They added that, by the time they attended the scene, “the delivery driver had removed themselves from the van” and had “reported the incident to Amazon”.

The Coastguard added: “The Broomway route is not for vehicles and should only be walked on with a guide who knows the mud flats.”

Incredibly, the driver and a passenger had been stuck on the mud since the previous evening before finally calling it quits and bailing out.

Amazon arranged with a local farmer to have the van extracted from The Boomway, with the vehicle pulled from the mucky depths at about 3.30pm Sunday (February 15).

Locals were left baffled, with many taking to social media to wonder what the guy behind the wheel was thinking. One user said: “Explains a lot – They can’t even find my flat to deliver my parcels. It’s everywhere but the actual address. I put money on that being my delivery driver.” A second added: “Did they not realise they’d taken a wrong turn until they were literally in the sea? Absolute madness.” While a third just chipped in with: “Can’t park there mate.”

The Coastguard kindly provided directions for any other motorists who may get the urge to drive to Foulness Island via the muddy ‘shortcut’. Essentially, just don’t. “The correct route onto Foulness Island is via the left barrier via Qinetiq security office,” the Coastguard said.

Next time, maybe just stick to the A-roads, mate.