‘It’s mine’ but not for long – Navy tells Joe it wants his foot stool back
A SALVAGER who discovered a sea mine on a beach in Cornwall and used it at home as a foot stool has had to hand it back to the Royal Navy.
Joe Gray, who owns Shiver Me Timbers reclamation yard near Penzance, discovered the sea mine on rocks at Perranuthnoe, near St Michael’s Mount, at the beginning of
February. It is believed that the mine had already been there for a couple of days, most likely washed in when a huge swell hit the south coast.
An expert salvager of all things weird and wonderful and a stickler for going through the correct channels, Joe spoke to the coastguard and the Royal Navy, who confirmed it was a dummy practice mine and was completely safe.
He rolled it home, placed it in front of his sofa and used the mine to put his feet on and as a coffee table.
Joe had been told by the Government’s Receiver of Wreck team that he could keep it if it was unclaimed after one year.
However, Joe said his dreams of becoming its permanent owner were dashed when the Royal Navy visited him on Tuesday morning to reclaim it.
He added: “I thought, if I could keep it, I might have it turned into a unique stove or a piece of artwork. I’ll have to hope another washes up!”