Projectile event in United Kingdom on Thu 14th December 2023

An unexploded bomb has been found off the coast of Essex requiring disposal units to be brought in from the army. Experts believe the bomb could have originated from the First or Second World Wars.

Southend Coastguard were tasked to reports of the suspected ordnance out by the Ray off Chalkwell spotted by a bait digger on Thursday (December 14). Over the next two days, coastguard teams inspected the suspected ordnance and worked with the Dover Coastguard coordination centre and the Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD).

A coastguard spokesman said: "On Friday our Army EOD colleagues attended who were escorted out to the site and it was quickly determined this was a ‘live’ 18lb shell with TNT explosives inside originating from the years 1897 to 1947 (when used) so could have been from WW1 or WW2.

"A cordon was put in place and the Army EOD team went to work to prepare to safely explode the device in situ, which all went to plan and was completely destroyed. We wound like to thank all members of the public for their cooperation and especially thank our Army EOD colleagues for their attendance.

"Because these items can be so dangerous, if you ever see something suspicious or out of the ordinary on the beach or in the sea, do not touch it, move it or take it home."