Amazon Driver Strands Van on Essex Mudflat Path

An Amazon delivery driver abandoned their van on a treacherous mudflat path in Essex after following GPS directions to a restricted island, prompting a rescue operation by local authorities on Sunday.

The incident occurred on Saturday evening when the driver, attempting to reach Foulness Island, veered onto The Broomway, a 600-year-old, six-mile walking route stretching into the Thames Estuary from near Great Wakering. The path, which snakes through a Ministry of Defence site used for weapons testing, is unsuitable for vehicles and known for its deadly hazards. HM Coastguard Southend received reports of the stranded van on Sunday morning and coordinated with QinetiQ, the defence firm managing the area, to confirm the details.

The driver and a passenger safely exited the vehicle as tides rose and reported the mishap to Amazon. By Sunday afternoon, the company arranged for a local farmer to extract the van, completing the recovery around 3:30 p.m. Coastguard officers were stood down once the occupants' safety was assured and pollution risks from the vehicle were addressed.

Officials emphasized that The Broomway demands specialist knowledge to navigate. "The route is not for...