Quoin Sellenger recovered a small safe from the seabed off Shark Bay after a friend spotted it near a reef. After posting on a local Facebook page with no credible claimants, Sellenger and a friend used an angle grinder to force it open. Inside they found only a couple of hinges and a 30 g packet labeled the "world's hottest beef jerky," apparently expired about four years earlier. Sellenger suspects the safe was placed deliberately as a prank and has handed it to WA Police.
Treasure Hunter Pulls Up Ocean Safe Off Shark Bay — Inside Was Only a Packet of Beef Jerky
GettyShark Bay, Western Australia
Quoin Sellenger made an unusual discovery last week when he recovered a small safe from the seabed of the Indian Ocean off Shark Bay in Western Australia. A friend first spotted the metal box near a reef between Denham and Eagle Bluff, and Sellenger and his 13-year-old daughter, Belle, retrieved it by jet ski.
Posting and Public Response
On Jan. 3 Sellenger posted a photo and a short notice on a local Facebook page asking anyone who could identify the safe or its contents to come forward. The community reacted with jokes and curiosity, but no credible owners responded. "A lot of dad jokes... people are as intrigued as I am about finding a safe in the ocean of all places in Shark Bay," he told reporters.
GettyA safe (stock image)
Opening the Safe
After several days with no claimants, Sellenger and his friend Brad decided to open the corroded box. They used an angle grinder to cut into the back of the safe; both men reported a strong smell when it was opened. "To be honest... I was actually nervous," Sellenger said, adding that he did not want to open the safe alone.
"We opened up the safe, and to our surprise, there was a smelly packet of … beef jerky!" — Quoin Sellenger
Inside they found only a few loose hinges and a single 30 g packet labeled the "world's hottest beef jerky," which appeared to have expired about four years earlier.
7NEWS Regional WA FacebookQuoin Sellenger
Possible Explanation and Next Steps
Sellenger suspects the safe may have been placed intentionally at the well-known reef as a prank or novelty rather than being lost in an accident. He has handed the recovered safe to the Western Australia Police Force for investigation. WA Police had not immediately commented when contacted by media, and Sellenger confirmed reporters also reached out to him for comment.
This small, odd find has captured local attention for its mystery and anticlimax: a locked metal box pulled from the ocean that contained only an expired snack. The case remains with authorities.
Help us improve.
