WWII shell detonated at 4am on Sunshine Coast wakes residents
An 11-kilogram shell from World War II was detonated by Defence Force bomb squad on Wurtulla Beach early Sunday, jolting residents awake.
Sean Mackney's friend discovered the shell at the base of a sand dune while they were walking his dog just before midnight on Saturday. Mackney picked it up without realising what it was, then called police.
Defence personnel confirmed it was a 25-pounder High Explosive projectile used by Commonwealth Forces until the 1960s. The bomb squad detonated the device around 4am on Sunday, waking residents across Battery Hill and the surrounding area.
The Sunshine Coast was a live firing site during World War II and remains listed as having substantial potential for unexploded ordnance. The ADF responds to about 500 unexploded ordnance incidents around Australia each year.
- 11 kilograms
- Shell weight
- Around 4am Sunday
- Detonation time
- 25-pounder High Explosive projectile
- Artillery type
Why it mattersUnexploded shells buried near populated beaches pose a serious risk to anyone who might find and handle them.
AustraliaResidents near old military firing ranges in Australia, especially on beaches and coastal areas, should be alert for unexploded ordnance and report any suspicious objects to police.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 54 min ago
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