A delivery driver who dumped hundreds of Christmas presents down a ravine has been sacked after being questioned by police.
FedEx have fired the worker from Blount County, Alabama, US, for heaping around 400 parcels down the gorge in six separate trips.
Police found the packages and hit out at the driver for committing an “awful” act just weeks before Christmas.
Blount County Sheriff’s Office said the boxes were “of assorted sizes”. They say they ask yet have no idea why the employee, who has not yet been named, dumped them at the busiest time of the year.
Sheriff Mark Moon believed the delivery driver went back and threw the packages from a van “at least six times”.
He explained that the boxes were found in a wooded area on private property.
He said: “As of right now we are looking at around 450 individual victims, some in Blount County some not, that investigators are attempting to work their cases.
“We are in the process of contacting officials with FedEx so that they can investigate this situation and contact their customers."
Photos posted on Facebook and twitter show abandoned boxes scattered on a steep ravine with several trucks lined up in the woods ready to collect them.
FedEx confirmed they had sent multiple trucks to recover the packages.
In a statement they announced that the person involved was no longer working for the delivery giants.
FedEx added it was cooperating with police on its investigation.
“The security of our customers’ shipments is a top priority and we are committed to treating our customers’ packages with the utmost care,″ FedEx said.
"Where possible, recovered packages are being delivered to the intended recipients. In the event of a damaged shipment, we will make every effort to work with the affected shippers to reach a resolution."
The company directed customers with any questions to track their shipments online.
