Mysterious device with a cryptic message on its side is finally revealed after the ADF seals off the city beach to blow it up
- A device found on a beach in Perth turns out to be a marine flare
- The object caused intrigue after the ADF was called in to destroy it
- A local surfer said the meter-long device was ‘rocket-shaped’
A mysterious ‘rocket-shaped’ object that washed ashore and caused a picturesque town beach to be closed off as the ADF blew it up has been identified as a marine flare.
The device used in ocean emergencies sparked a military response when it was discovered by a swimmer at North Beach on Perth’s north coast at 3:40 p.m. Friday.
It is understood that writing was written on the side of the object warning people to stay away from the device and to contact the police.
Authorities guarded the object while the Australian Defense Force was called in to investigate before it was disposed of on the beach at 6:50 pm in what is believed to be a controlled explosion.
Neighbors reported hearing a loud bang at the time.
The device used in ocean emergencies caused a stir when it was discovered by a swimmer at North Beach on Perth’s north coast at 3:40 p.m. Friday.
An ADF spokesperson said WA police asked the agency to ‘respond to a marker ship’s flare’ where it then ‘disposed the flare safely on site using routine measures’ (photo, stock image of marine flares)
Marmion told local Kieran Jessup the Western Australian he was surfing when he saw a police officer guarding the object awaiting the arrival of the ADF.
“Usually I enter on a certain part of the reef, but the police waved me off,” he said.
Mr Jessup said the meter-long object was shaped like a rocket and about the size of an adult’s arm.
He also said the “whole suburb” heard the explosion, adding “it was a bit of a hot topic in the water there” as he was out surfing on Saturday morning.
Authorities guarded the object while the Australian Defense Force was called in to investigate before it was thrown onto the beach at 6.50pm (pictured, a stock image of the ADF during a training exercise)
An ADF spokesman said WA police asked the agency to “respond to a marker sea flare,” where it then “cleared the flare safely at the scene using routine measures.”
If a member of the public discovers an unexploded device, they are urged to leave it alone and to contact the police immediately.
Ship flares are safety devices used by ship and boat operators to generate distress signals when help is needed.
The flares can also pinpoint a boat’s location for a search vessel.