Incident Overview
An Amazon delivery van ended up stuck in mud near a military firing range after its driver followed GPS directions onto a hazardous tidal path. Officials from HM Coastguard Southend reported the vehicle had driven via Wakering Stairs onto The Broomway while attempting to reach Foulness Island. The Broomway is a roughly six-mile, 600-year-old walking route that extends into the Thames Estuary.
Path Characteristics and Risks
The Broomway is not intended for vehicles and should only be attempted on foot with a guide familiar with the surrounding mudflats, according to the coastguard. The area is deemed extremely dangerous and lies on property owned by the UK's Ministry of Defence. Public access is permitted only when military firing ranges are inactive and a security barrier is open.
Response and Recovery
Coastguard officers contacted the Qinetiq security office, which confirmed the van's occupants had driven onto the mudflats the previous evening, remaining there through high tide. The delivery driver exited the vehicle and reported the incident to Amazon. The company arranged for a local farmer to recover the van later that day. In an afternoon update, officials confirmed the vehicle had been removed.
Safety and Environmental Concerns
Coastguard officials stated their primary concerns were the safety of the occupants and the potential for environmental contamination. After verifying the individuals were safe and the vehicle would be extracted, officers stood down. FOX Business reached out to Amazon for comment.
Historical Context
Parish council records cited by the BBC indicate that 100 people have died on The Broomway, though the last recorded death was in 1919.
