GPS mistake sends 85-year-old French man on 1,500-km journey across Europe

On the morning of Nov. 2, the elderly man from Chatillon-sur-Thouet commune set off for a routine medical appointment in Airvault, located just 19 kilometers away, according to Oddity Central. However, by midday, his doctor alerted the family when he failed to arrive. The family grew increasingly concerned when he missed a scheduled meeting later in the day with a local association of which he was a member.

Police were then contacted, and authorities enlisted the military to help trace the man’s mobile phone. The phone signal was eventually detected at a hotel in Croatia, roughly 1,500 kilometers from his home.

The octogenarian had driven for nearly 20 hours, passing through Italy before arriving in the southern European country. He said he "didn’t understand what had happened," blaming the unplanned journey on a GPS malfunction.

A person uses navigation system while driving. Photo from Pexels

His family has since traveled to Croatia to bring him home. Despite his advanced age, he was not known to suffer from any cognitive or orientation issues, French outlet Ici Poitou reported.

The case highlights that while GPS technology and navigation apps have made it easier for drivers to find efficient routes and avoid traffic, errors can still occur.

A similar incident took place in October when Polish tourist Wiktoria Guzenda fell into a canal in Venice after following Google Maps directions that led her down slippery steps near the water. Guzenda managed to climb back to safety but sustained scrapes on her leg, according to the New York Post.