Shocked magnet fisher nets unexploded bomb
Trip ends with controlled explosion being carried out
A bomb disposal team was called after a man pulled an unexploded grenade out of the River Medway.
Sean Bevan, from Rochester, made the frightening discovery at around 10am on Thursday, July 30 while magnet fishing near Maidstone town centre. The 47-year-old vehicle technician at Haynes Ford in Maidstone said: “I was not sure what it was at first, until closer inspection. I was shocked. “I put it safely on the ground and stepped back to alert the police. I called them and within half an hour they arrived to inspect the grenade and told me they would need to call in the army to detonate it.”
Police say they were called to the riverside, near James Whatman Way, just before 10am. A spokesman said: “Officers attended the scene and the footpath was closed as precaution. A Ministry of Defence bomb disposal team also attended and the grenade was destroyed in a
controlled explosion at around 12.30pm.”
Mr Bevan added: “The army said they were taking it away to safely detonate as this would cause too much grief due to it being under a railway bridge and near a main road.”
It came just a day after huge booms were heard by residents
in Sandwich as 11 unexploded army shells were detonated. The bomb disposal team was called to Sandwich Bay after the war munitions were found by metal detectorists Glenn Evans and Rob Bergin in the sand at Sandwich Bay.
And just over a year ago, a couple trying out magnet fishing
for the first time became the centre of an emergency response when they also fished out an unexploded grenade, this time, at Teston Bridge Country Park. Luke Crofts said: “At first, I was pleased to have found something of historical value, but my next thought was: “Oh **** I’m holding on to a bomb.”