PHOTO A delivery man who didn't look up from his GPS lost his truck after entering Britain's 'deadliest path'
Amazon delivery van (illustrative image), PHOTO: Martin Wagner / Imago Stock and People / Profimedia Images
A delivery lorry has become stuck in mud puddles in Essex on what locals call “Britain's deadliest footpath”, reports The Independent.
HM Coastguard was alerted at 11.30am on Sunday to “a report that an Amazon delivery vehicle had entered The Broomway” at Great Wakering in Essex.
The driver was following GPS directions to Foulness Island on Saturday evening. The delivery driver had to abandon the vehicle before reporting the incident to Amazon.
A spokesperson for HM Coastguard told The Independent that “Coastguard Southend Rescue Team attended the scene and, after confirming that no one was in danger, left the area shortly afterwards.”
The Coast Guard confirmed that Amazon was made aware of the incident and arranged for the recovery of the vehicle with the help of a local farmer, who removed the van by 3:30 p.m.
Why the area the Amazon delivery man entered has an infamous reputation
The Broomway is a 600-year-old path, approximately 9.7 kilometers long, that crosses the flat sands from the seafront to Foulness Island. The entire route is not suitable for vehicles, so people are advised to walk only with a guide experienced in traversing mud puddles.
The trail, managed by Essex Highways, is also a Ministry of Defense firing range, managed by global defense and security company Qinetiq.
There are signs at the site warning that “The Broomway is unmarked and very dangerous for vehicles and pedestrians”. The location is notorious for being covered in fast tides and thick, disorienting fog that frequently catches people by surprise.
According to parish council records, at least 100 people died on The Broomway, either after being swept away by the tide or initially lost due to poor visibility. The last known death was recorded in 1919.
Since then, the site has gained a reputation among locals as “the most dangerous footpath” in Britain. Historically, the route was historically used by farmers and travelers in a time before the advent of modern roads.
