Divers have found a drone at the bottom of the sea and recovered videos, which they’re now trying to reunite with its owners.
David Steele, 75, and his diving group spotted a drone on the seabed off Duncansby Head, northern Scotland, and brought it up.
While the water had damaged the drone, the footage was retrieved from the memory card, which, amazingly, still worked.
It showed the owners as a young couple out with their dog. David and fellow diver Greg Benson, 30, hope to reunite them with their photos and drone, which they found on August 18.
David, chairman of Caithness Diving Club, said: “The club is used to seeing shipwrecks at various sites around the coast.
“But they found a more unusual ‘wreck’ in the geo in the form of a downed – and drowned – drone lying on the bottom.
“This was brought to the surface initially as litter removal, but Greg decided to see if anything could be recovered from the unit’s memory card.
“Somewhat surprisingly, the card was still functioning despite immersion in the sea, and two videos plus some still pictures were recovered.”
One of the videos shows the drone descending – under control – from the cliff top into the geo, admiring the scenery and birdlife.
However, its final plunge into the sea is not recorded.
In the video, the registration number on the couple’s camper van—GD 936CH—can be read on what looks like an Italian number plate.
The club hopes that by sharing the story, the owners of the downed device might be found.
Retired David, from Falkirk, Stirlingshire, added: “The drone itself is obviously a write-off, but it would be nice to get the memory card back to the owners at least.
“It is possible that someone reading this – perhaps a campsite owner or receptionist – might have spoken to the couple and got the story of the lost drone and also have contact details from their check-in at the site.”
Greg added: “To be able to return the footage is great – you see stories of things like this happening on social media, of people returning lost items.
“But you never think you’ll be on that side of it.”
Anyone who knows who the drone belonged to should contact [email protected].
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
