Imagine walking along the beach and stumbling upon a torpedo!
That’s exactly what happened on Thursday morning when a practice torpedo was found washed ashore on Main Beach in the Gold Coast.
The discovery was made around 5:45 am, leaving locals shocked and concerned for their safety.
What Happened Next?
An exclusion zone of 100m was immediately set up by police to ensure public safety.
Defence force personnel were called in to inspect the device, and after a thorough examination, they deemed it to be an inert practice torpedo.
This type of torpedo is used by the Australian Defence Force for training purposes and is designed to be recovered after use.
What is a Practice Torpedo?
According to Acting Inspector Leon Wort, practice torpedoes are motorised but not designed to explode. They are meant to be picked up and collected by defence forces after use.
“Over the years, we’ve had a few unusual objects wash up on the beach,” Wort said. “We’ll manage whatever washes up appropriately.”
The Situation is Now Under Control
The exclusion zone has been lifted, and the public can now breathe a sigh of relief. The Australian Defence Force will collect the torpedo and return it to their depot.
As Wort confirmed, “We have no further concerns for public safety.”
It’s not the first time military devices have washed up on Gold Coast beaches, but fortunately, this incident had a safe and swift resolution.