Make a U-turn the place potential! Amazon supply van will get STUCK on mudflats after following GPS

An Amazon delivery van became stuck on mudflats and caught in the tide after following a GPS route to a dangerous footpath.

Coastguards were called out to reports of an Amazon delivery vehicle on The Broomway at Great Wakering in Essex this morning.

The driver had reportedly been following a GPS route from Southend-on-Sea to Foulness Island.

The Broomway is a six-mile footpath across flat sands into the Thames Estuary, which is home to a Ministry of Defence firing range.

It has been described as the ‘deadliest pathway in Britain’ and is thought to have killed more than 100 people in previous centuries, though the last known death was in 1919.

It is treacherous as the path disappears and reappears with the rising tide and people are advised to only attempt the walk with the help of an experienced guide.

The route is not recommended for vehicles and was described by the coastguard team as an ‘extremely dangerous area’.

Amazon said it was ‘aware’ of the situation and was ‘investigating’.

The delivery driver became lost after following a GPS route onto The Broomway in Essex

The Amazon delivery van was lifted from beneath the water on the dangerous walking route

The Broomway is currently managed by global defence and security company, QinetiQ, which described it as a ‘unique right of way which requires both caution and specialist knowledge to negotiate safely’.

The company advised that it is ‘not way-marked nor maintained for vehicles’, adding that the route is on soft, wet mud, not sand.

The company also states that it is illegal to drive a motorised or e-powered vehicle the full length of The Broomway.

HM Coastguard Southend-on-Sea said the driver managed to escape from the van and reported back to Amazon.

The company arranged the vehicle’s extraction with the help of a local farmer.

It was later seen being lifted from the Thames Estuary and back onto dry land. 

A spokesperson for the coastguard team 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 mudflats. 

‘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 has been described as the ‘deadliest path in the UK’ and is thought to have killed more than 100 people in previous centuries

HM Coastguard Southend were called out this morning to reports that an Amazon Delivery Van had driven onto The Broomway, which is a 600 years old 6 mile ‘walking’ path out into the Thames Estuary

‘The correct route onto Foulness Island is via the left barrier via Qinetiq security office.

‘HM Coastguard Southend DSO spoke to the Qinetiq security office 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.

‘HM Coastguard’s primary concern was for the safety of the occupants and any possible pollution. 

‘With the occupants confirmed to be safe and the vehicle to be removed later today, Coastguard Officers were stood down.’