Confused by GPS, Senior Drives Across Three Countries
PARIS: In a bizarre incident, an 85-year-old French man who set out for a short trip to his doctor ended up more than 1,000 miles away in Croatia after mistakenly following his GPS directions. The elderly man, who lives in the quiet village of Châtillon-sur-Thouet in western France, was supposed to drive just 12 miles to a local medical clinic.
However, his journey took an unexpected and astonishing turn. Instead of arriving at his doctor’s office, he kept driving for nearly 20 hours, crossing into Italy and then into Croatia, a country that doesn’t even share a border with France.
His family became alarmed when he failed to return home after several hours. They immediately contacted local police, fearing the worst. French authorities then requested help from the French military to track his phone signal, which was eventually located — not in France, but at a hotel in Croatia, nearly 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) from where he started.
Found Safe, But Still Confused About the Journey
When authorities finally reached the elderly man, they found him safe but visibly tired and confused. He reportedly told police he had no idea how he ended up so far from home. “I just followed the GPS,” he said, suggesting that a navigation system error might have sent him on the unintended international road trip.
Family members expressed relief that he was found unharmed. Local media reported that his memory and orientation were otherwise normal, making the incident even more perplexing.
Authorities have since advised elderly drivers to double-check their travel routes and avoid long solo journeys, especially when relying heavily on GPS devices.
The story has since gone viral across Europe, with many people expressing both amusement and sympathy for the elderly man’s extraordinary misadventure.
