A beachgoer received the shock of his life as he joked about throwing stones at what he thought was an oil drum – before realising it was in fact a 2,200lb Nazi sea mine.
Paul Austin’s discovery of the Second World War device which had washed up on the West Sussex coast yesterday led to the Royal Navy bomb squad being called in.
The sea mine was found on a sheltered beach near holiday homes in the seaside resort of Bognor Regis, prompting calls for nearby residents to stay indoors.
The device was found on a sheltered beach near holiday homes in Bognor Regis, West Sussex
The discovery of the sea mine in Sussex prompted calls for nearby residents to stay indoors
Bomb disposal teams in Bognor Regis inspected the metal mine, which is about 6ft (1.8m) long
The mine is thought to weigh 2,200lbs (1,000kg) and attempts have been made to make it safe
Emergency service teams told a local resident it was one of the biggest bombs the Nazis made
Paul Austin, who found the device and alerted emergency services yesterday, told BBC News: ‘At first it looked like a big oil drum. I didn’t think it was a bomb.
‘We were almost standing on it, but then we stepped away. I said ‘let’s throw stones at it’ as a joke. But then I thought – actually, that’s a torpedo or a bomb.’
He added that emergency service teams had told him the device – which is about 500 yards from his front door – was one of the biggest bombs the Nazis made.
Bomb disposal teams inspected the metal mine, which is about 6ft (1.8m) long and is thought to weigh 2,200lbs (1,000kg), and have been trying to make it safe.
A one-mile maritime and air exclusion zone has been enforced and the device will probably be towed out to sea and detonated, according to the coastguard.
A one-mile maritime and air exclusion zone was enforced around the area of the discovery
Coastguard rescue teams and police have had a cordon in place around the area today
Selsey Coastguard spokesman urged the public to avoid Elmer Beach in Bognor Regis today
Residents near the beach in Bognor Regis have been told to leave their windows open
Residents near Elmer Beach, where the device was found, have been told to leave their windows open in case of an explosion and only use the rear of their homes.
Police officers told how allowing air to flow through a property from the noise of an explosion can prevent glass shattering. No homes have been evacuated.
However, Chief Superintendent Jane Derrick from Sussex Police said ‘further action to ensure the public remain safe will be taken if necessary’.
A Selsey Coastguard spokesman urged the public to avoid Elmer Beach while the Royal Navy explosive ordnance disposal team deal with the situation.
Coastguard rescue teams from Littlehampton and Selsey along with Sussex Police have had a cordon in place around the area overnight and today.