A magnet fisherman who pulled a grenade from the Birmingham Canal has rated it as amongst his strangest ever finds around the globe.
Leigh Webber, higher often known as the Bondi Treasure Hunter, has additionally discovered ammunition, safes and voodoo charms whereas on his travels.
The 41-year-old, who's initially from Australia, spoke as he prepares to return to England for an additional 12 months of the world’s greatest magnet fishing occasion, which is because of happen in August.
Based mostly in Amsterdam, his thirst for journey has taken him internationally and included diving within the sea in addition to casting in highly effective magnets from canal and river banks.
The YouTuber lived as much as his billing ultimately 12 months’s occasion in Walsall, on a stretch often known as the Birmingham Canal Navigations, when reeled in a ‘flash-bang’ grenade out of the river on the meet in assist of Most cancers Analysis UK.
The machine nonetheless had the phrase ‘BANG’ legible on the facet however proved innocent on the day, entitled Colab 129, which attracted greater than 250 individuals.
Leigh informed Metro.co.uk: ‘You get a large magnet, connect it to a rope, throw it within the canal and see what sticks mainly. You by no means know what you’re going to tug out and that day we received a grenade,
‘I believe it’s referred to as a flash grenade. I used to be fairly scared on the time, you wish to pull it off however then you definitely don’t wish to get close to it. There have been some fellas there who find out about this type of factor they usually had a take a look at it and mentioned it had been used, all the edges had exploded out of it.
‘Somebody mentioned they have been army or police problem, it was a reasonably strong piece of apparatus. You could possibly see the place a great deal of pellets had come out from the facet. I took it to the fellows who organised the occasion they usually handed it over to the authorities.’
The machine is believed to be a ‘9 banger’ grenade, which explodes with flashes and sound blasts and is meant to stun targets in hostage and different disaster conditions.
Whereas the spent explosive could be uncommon on the Wyrley and Essington Canal, in Leigh’s scheme of issues it has some severe competitors as a standout merchandise.
‘I’ve discovered safes, weapons, swords, sun shades, a World Battle Two bomb in Brussels, iPhones, buying trolleys, you title it,’ he mentioned.
‘Something conceivable has been thrown within the canal or the water.
‘There’s been some unusual issues over time, the grenade and a jar of voodoo charms are up there, however it’s a protracted checklist. The benefit of magnet fishing is you by no means go house with no catch, ever. It’s additionally cleansing up the setting, which is actually good too.’
The explorer, who is typically joined in his social media movies by girlfriend Nicky Tulp, is trying ahead to returning to an as-yet undisclosed location within the Midlands as this 12 months’s Colab occasion takes place on August 21.
Travelling throughout alluring and unique places, together with Croatia, France, Ibiza, New Zealand, Thailand, and round his native Australia, his different explorations have included underwater steel detecting and scuba diving,
He has additionally reeled in motorbikes, cannonballs, jewelry of all descriptions, together with a £125,700 watch, and various massive safes.
Metallic detecting above floor in England has yielded finds together with a Roman coin hoard.
In a single notable outing in Amsterdam final November he discovered a secure with euro cash, units of keys, bullets, and a gun journal inside.
The entire legal loot he finds is handed over to the related authorities.
Leigh grew up as a surfer and found his ardour whereas snorkelling on a day when there have been no waves.
He started Bondi Treasure Hunter to satisfy others who shared his curiosity, travelling overseas after being bitten by the exploration passion.
Leigh has amassed 397,000 followers on Fb so far, a determine that's prone to have grown by the point he lands again within the Midlands this summer season.
He mentioned: ‘I cherished being within the ocean and when the surf was flat I went snorkelling and located some cash on the underside of the rocks.
‘I assumed it seemed fairly attention-grabbing so I dusted off the sand and it was loaded with cash. I assumed that is so cool so I received a water-proof steel detector and it went on from there. I didn’t know the place it was going to take me, it simply led me down a rabbit hoIe.
‘I similar to assembly different like-minded people and I’m trying ahead to coming again to the Midlands and being a part of an excellent factor for charity.’
The Bondi Treasure Hunter YouTube is right here and the Fb right here
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