| A Royal Navy diver has removed
a live shell from half-way up a cliff by carrying it himself
to the top.
PO Steve Vernon (39), a member of the Southern Diving Group
unit based at HMS Drake in Plymouth, was called out by HM
Coastguard at Portland in Dorset last Thursday, July 17.
The unit, which deals with unexploded ordnance such as bombs,
mines and shells, was called out to deal with an unidentified
shell spotted half-way up a sheer 40ft cliff which was reported
to coastguards.
The shell was only accessible by climbing down the cliff,
and PO Vernon duly climbed down with the help of ropes handled
by the coastguards.
The Naval diver reported back that the 4.5-inch shell was
live, and of indeterminate age and origin, and therefore dangerous.
But in order to remove it, PO Vernon was required to carry
it while the coastguards hauled him back to the top of the
cliff. The shell was then taken to a nearby quarry and detonated
in safety, with the co-operation of the Hanson quarry firm
on Portland.
PO Vernon said: “On investigation it was soon apparent
the shell was live and needed to be disposed of safely.
“I was the man on the spot and a safe explosion could
obviously not take place in situ. The only thing to do was
for me to carry the shell up with the help of the Coastguard.
“The operation was successful in the end with the shell
detonated safely under controlled conditions in a quarry.
“But it was potentially dangerous ordnance, and although
it was not highly-sensitive we had to be careful and the shell
had to be detonated for the safety of the public.”
Portland Coastguard District Controller Jim McWilliams praised
the diver: “This was a well co-ordinated operation between
the Royal Navy and the Portland Bill Coastguard Rescue Team.
“I must pick out PO Vernon, because to carry a live
shell up a sheer cliff is a hazardous action and a very brave
thing to do in the interests of public safety.”
The shell is thought likely to have come from Army artillery,
but how it ended up lodged in the position it was on a cliff
is unknown. |
