The 85-year-old man drove 19 kilometers, lost more than 1,500 kilometers to Croatia because he believed in his location

On the morning of November 2, the old man who lives in the town of Châtillon-sur-Thouet, in western France, departed for a clinic in the town of Airvault, only 19 kilometers from his home. However, at noon on the same day, the doctor informed his family that he did not come to the doctor as scheduled. The old man was also absent from the meeting of the elderly association in the evening.

The family tried to contact them many times but failed. Fearing that something was wrong, they reported it to the police. With assistance from the military, police tracked down his phone’s location signal. The results showed that he was staying at a hotel in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, more than 1,500 kilometers from home.
Illustrative photo. Oddity Central.
The French police immediately contacted the Croatian authorities. When approached, the old man was in a safe condition but quite confused. He was completely unaware that he had left French territory. Through the exchange, police determined that the old man had been driving for nearly 20 hours, passing through several routes in northern Italy before stopping in Croatia.

“I just drove under the guidance of the GPS. It’s true that the distance seems to be farther than usual, but I don’t think I’ll go all the way to Croatia,” he told local police.

According to relatives, the old man had no history of dementia, orientation disorder or cognitive problems. He still often drives in the area where he lives. The family then went to Croatia to take him back to France.

French officials say the rare incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of the elderly relying entirely on GPS navigation systems. While technology makes travel more convenient, in many cases, drivers may not recognize navigation errors due to misaligned equipment or incorrect data updates.

Traffic experts recommend that drivers, especially the elderly, need to carefully check the itinerary information before departure, avoiding absolute reliance on automatic directions. Observing signs, comparing traditional maps and taking reasonable breaks when traveling long distances are necessary to ensure safety.

The story of the 85-year-old man attracted attention in the European media. Many people believe that the incident, although rare, shows that people are easily caught off guard when they trust technology too much. Some even humorously call this “the longest medical journey in France”.

After returning, the old man said he still kept the habit of driving but would “turn off the GPS” when traveling short distances around the house.