A teenage treasure hunter who combs river bottoms with a heavy-duty magnet pulled a safe out of the water - stuffed with cash - and kindly returned the money to its rightful owner.
George Tindale was scouring the River Witham in Lincolnshire, central England, with his dad when he made the incredible discovery. They then turned detective, and followed a series of clues to track down the rightful owner, whose safe was stolen 22 years ago.
The father and son were astonished when among the muddy slime inside the small rusty metal safe was a pouch containing $2,500 Australian dollars (around $1,800 US).
Also inside were a certificate and expired bank cards that gave the magnet ‘fishermen’ enough information to track down Rob Everett. After contacting Rob to explain the amazing find, the pair visited him at his office in Grantham to return the stolen property.
“I was just amazed that they’d been able to track me down,” said Rob. “There are some really nice and good people in this world. They could have kept the money, they could have said they attempted to get hold of me."
In addition to a small reward, George was even offered a job by Rob, who (ironically) runs a wealth management company. “If I ever want work-experience when I leave school, he said the offer is always open.”
Although George started magnet fishing three years ago to search for treasure, his hobby now also highlights river pollution and the harm it can have on wildlife. He regularly records his findings on his popular Youtube channel Magnetic G.