Google Maps error traps tourists in forest, they face a river with a crocodile and much more

A duo of German tourists found themselves in a state of flux as Google Maps allegedly directed them into the vast Australian wilderness, leading to a challenging ordeal spanning several days. Philipp Maier and Marcel Schoene, en route from Cairns to Bamaga, ended up on a desolate dirt track in Far North Queensland, according to a report by Business Insider, originally attributed to Australian outlet 9News.

Google Maps lead tourists down a dangerous path

Trusting Google's navigation system, Maier recounted as per the publication that they decided to follow the popular navigation system as they thought that it "knew more than they did." However, their journey took an unfortunate turn when their car became stuck in mud 37 miles into the drive, compelling the pair to embark on a more than a week-long hiking expedition back to Cairns.

The tourists shared their harrowing experiences, including crossing a river inhabited by a crocodile, braving extreme weather with thunderstorms and soaring temperatures, and spending nights under the open sky after failing to construct a shelter.

Responding to the incident, a Google spokesperson told Business Insider, "We apologize for this incident and are relieved that Philipp and Marcel are safe. We can confirm that this path has been removed from the map."

Google asserted its use of multiple sources, such as third-party data, user contributions, Street View, and satellite imagery, for map updates.

Not the first incident

This incident was not the first instance where people have faced challenges after relying on Google Maps directions during hiking excursions.

A couple of months back, Google Maps had led some people on a route that left them stranded in a desert.

To recall what exactly happened, a group of Californians were on their way back from Las Vegas when Google Maps directed them off the main highway and into the desert. They followed the app's instructions, even though the road was rough and unfamiliar.

Eventually, another driver warned them that the road ahead was washed out and led nowhere. The group turned around and got back on the right path.

In today's scenario, most of us rely on Google Maps blindly to show us the best way forward. Incidents like these highlight the importance of staying informed and being careful while navigating new places, even when using tools like Google Maps.