VIDEO: Beach explosion at Lennox Head — this was no WWII relic
It was an explosive start to Monday morning for Lennox Head residents, as a controlled detonation carried out by the Australian Defence Force echoed along the coast.
A large section of Seven Mile Beach was cordoned off after a suspicious object washed ashore at Lennox Head, prompting an emergency response shortly after 7am.
Police closed the beach while specialist crews assessed the device and prepared for a controlled explosion, which was carried out later in the morning.
Officers from the Richmond Police District Rescue Squad secured the area as a precaution, with beachgoers and nearby residents kept well clear.
NSW Police video of the controlled explosion
Police later confirmed the object was a marine location marker, a modern pyrotechnic device used by military aircraft, vessels and search-and-rescue agencies to mark a position on the water.
Personnel from the Australian Defence Force attended the scene and safely destroyed the device.
The item was described as unexploded ordnance, or UXO, a term used for military devices that have failed to function as intended and remain dangerous.
While some initial speculation suggested the object may have been a relic from World War II, authorities confirmed it was a modern device.
Experts say it may have washed ashore following a military training exercise off Evans Head.
Marine location markers are designed to emit thick smoke and bright flames, visible during both day and night operations.
Authorities warned that even devices that appear unused can still contain their full explosive and pyrotechnic charge.
Police stressed such items should never be touched.
Anyone who finds a suspicious object on a beach is urged to leave it where it is and contact police immediately.
A close-up shot of the device before the controlled explosion
