Amazon Delivery Van Gets Stuck In Ocean On A Military Firing Range
You may have messed up at work. But probably not as badly as an Amazon delivery van driver in the UK. They tried to drive a footpath that leads to a secure military firing range on an island, only accessible at low tide. The ocean rose, swallowing their van, and preventing them from driving onto the base.
The “broomway” is a path from the Essex mainland to Foulness Island. It gets its name because it was traditionally marked by broom handles stuck in the sand. Still, locals expect that the six-mile hike has claimed more than a hundred lives over the centuries. Today, it’s maintained by the Ministry of Defense, which uses the area for active drills. It is a muddy hiking trail, but not suitable for vehicles even when the tide is out.
The coastguard officers report they were alerted to an Amazon van, trapped by the rising tide and surrounded by ocean water. But they stood down after contacting base security. They learned the driver had “removed themselves from the van and reported the incident to Amazon.” Amazon later hired a local farmer to tow the vehicle out of the water.
The private base management describes the broomway as a “unique right of way which requires both caution and specialist knowledge to negotiate safely.” The advice to hikers: hire a local guide before attempting the trot.
So what in the world was the driver doing? Perhaps they saw the dotted path on their GPS and assumed it was a shortcut, drove down the ramp, and got several van lengths into the mud before they realized their mistake. You can see the Broomway for yourself in the video below:
