A Thrilling Find: UK Man Buys WWI-Era Shipwreck for a Song on Facebook Marketplace
British individual purchases World War I wreckage listed on Facebook Marketplace for approximately £400 (≈ INR 34,000)
In a surprising turn of events, Dom Robinson, a 53-year-old shipwreck enthusiast from the United Kingdom, has bought a World War I-era shipwreck for just ₹34,000 (£300). As reported by the BBC, Robinson stumbled upon the listing for the SS Almond Branch on Facebook Marketplace and couldn't resist making the deal.
The impressive 3,300-tonne cargo ship, spanning 330 feet, was sunk by a German submarine off the coast of Cornwall on November 27, 1917. Since that fateful day, it has been resting beneath the sea. Recognizing the shipwreck in a flash, Robinson expressed his excitement at the opportunity.
"I just went along and kind of kicked the tires, and I sucked my teeth, and I knew what it was," he said.
An Avid Seafarer
Passionate about exploring the depths of the ocean, Robinson uses seabed scans to search for unusual patterns that could indicate shipwrecks. Over the last few years, he has located and investigated around 20 to 25 shipwrecks. He shares his aquatic adventures on his YouTube channel, shedding light on the hidden stories beneath the waves.
"I've identified maybe 20 or 25 shipwrecks in the past couple of years. It's really nice because each shipwreck has a story associated with it. That's something I find particularly rewarding," Robinson explained.
"It feels a bit different when you're diving a wreck, and you know that you have a sense of ownership on it."
However, his wife, Suzi, 53, was far from thrilled about the purchase, initially deeming it a waste of money.
"When I bought it, my wife was furious," Robinson admitted.
Despite his wife's initial reaction, Robinson harbors high hopes of recovering one specific item—the ship's bell.
"So if anybody finds the bell, they should report it to the Receiver of Wreck, who will ask me whether I want to keep it or not. And if they find the bell, then, of course, hands off my bell!" he said.
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Sources: [1], [2]
- Dom Robinson, an avid seafarer from the UK, has a particular interest in shipwrecks and has identified around 20 to 25 of them in the last couple of years.
- In 1917, the cargo ship SS Almond Branch, weighing 3,300 tonnes and spanning 330 feet, was sunk during World War I, and it has been resting beneath the sea ever since.
- Robinson recently purchased the SS Almond Branch from a Facebook Marketplace listing for ₹34,000 (£300), and he plans to recover the ship's bell, should it be found.
- Interestingly, Robinson's passion for sports includes cricket, and he often shares his aquatic adventures on his YouTube channel, drawing similarities between the thrill of discovering a shipwreck and the excitement of watching a high-stakes match in India, another passion of his.
