'Bit alarming': Girl finds suspected explosive on Ōrewa Beach while exploring rocks
A 12-year-old girl exploring rocks at a popular north Auckland beach made a shocking discovery when she found a suspicious item, which was later destroyed in a controlled detonation.
The piece of ordnance was found by the young girl yesterday afternoon, near some stairs close to a playground on Ōrewa Beach.
The item was detonated this morning by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) after locals had been warned of an impending “loud bang”.
Teresa Walker, from Whangārei, said her 12-year-old daughter Sophia made the startling discovery during a family holiday trip to the beach.
“My parents live in Ōrewa. We had some cousins visiting from Australia, so we were just down there enjoying the beach, and my younger two were climbing on the rocks,” Teresa said.
She said that as her eldest was climbing, she noticed something jammed deep into the rocks.
Sophia told the Herald she originally thought it was a “piece of rubbish”.
At first glance, the cylinder appeared small, but upon closer inspection, it was about 40cm long and ran deep into the rock wall.
Teresa Walker, said her 12-year-old daughter, Sophia Walker, made the startling discovery on a family holiday to the beach.
The confused family took a photo of the metal object with red Spanish writing on it in the bid to figure out what it was.
After doing a reverse image search, they discovered the item could have been an expended flare, a marine location marker or “something potentially explosive”.
The translation of the writing on the object said: “Do not touch, contains phosphorus, notify police or military”.
Teresa’s sister, Dana Marcroft, said the translation was a “bit alarming”. Sophia said she was “kind of” scared at the time.
The family quickly moved away, didn’t touch it, and Marcroft alerted police.
Police told them they could not attend straight away. The tide had come in and covered the rocks, so the police came back the following morning.
Police called Marcroft at 9.30am, and she helped them pinpoint the exact location of the device.
“It takes the eagle eyes of a 12-year-old to spot something like that.
“She’s [Sophia] going to have something very cool to write about at the start of term three,” Marcroft joked.
The piece of ordnance was found on the rocks yesterday, near a playground on Ōrewa Beach.
‘Loud bang’
Police said they were at Ōrewa Beach today and the NZDF Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team was called in to dispose of the item.
Police confirmed it was detonated about 11.30am.
Residents and pedestrians along Marine Parade were warned to expect a “loud bang”.
Police said they would remain in the area and maintain a safe perimeter.
There was no risk to public safety.
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