Police have issued a warning to the public after a marine marker containing highly volatile phosphorous material was found on a beach at Lee Point.

Police said a member of the public brought the 45cm metal cylindrical item into the Casuarina Police station just after 8.30am yesterday. Superintendent Dean Maloney said this was the fifth time this year a marine marker had been found by the public.

"What is concerning is that the person who found this one simply picked it up and transported it to his nearest police station," Supt Moloney said.

"This could have had tragic results with someone being severely burnt or worse. These devices are used by a variety of agencies including the military, customs and AusSar.

"They are dropped from aircraft to act as marker buoys emitting coloured smoke. When the phosphorous has burned all the way to the bottom of the cylinder, a charge is automatically ignited and as a result, the marker sinks to the bottom of the ocean. In some cases, such as the one found at the weekend, the charge did not ignite and the marker, and any unused phosphorous inside, floated in the water and washed up onto the beach," Supt Moloney said.

"The danger is that a member of the public could pick up one of these items and through mishandling could re-ignite the phosphorous or set off the unexploded charge. Phosphorous burns can be very painful and should someone sustain such a burn the area should be placed under running water right away.

"What the public should do if they find one of these is to note the location, leave it where it is and call police on 131 444 or triple zero. Under no circumstances should anyone attempt to move them."

NOTE: Pic attached of the marine marker prior to it being destroyed


Media contact:
Theresa Kuilboer
8922 3531