Crime & Safety

Navy Torpedo Found Floating In Ocean Near Dana Point

A lightweight torpedo used for training was spotted floating in the water Monday afternoon by a local resident.

DANA POINT, CA — A lightweight torpedo used for training was found by a boater off Dana Point Monday and recovered by U.S. Navy and Orange County Sheriff's Department bomb experts.

Sean Sheehan told The Orange County Register he was out on the water looking for dolphins and whales when he spotted the torpedo about 30 feet away.

Upon getting a closer look and realizing it was a torpedo, Sheehan called the Harbor Patrol and was told it would respond and investigate.

Find out what's happening in Laguna Niguel-Dana Pointfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Sheehan told The Register he stayed in the area to alert other boaters and waited for law enforcement to respond.

The object was confirmed to be a recoverable training torpedo with no propulsion system or explosives, Navy Cmdr. Sean Robertson told The Register.

Find out what's happening in Laguna Niguel-Dana Pointfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The torpedo was dropped from aircraft or ships in training, and that most are recovered by a recovery vehicle, but sometimes they are missed, Robertson told The Register.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.