> At a Glance
> – Quoin Sellenger pulled a small safe from the Indian Ocean near Shark Bay, WA, last week
> – After Facebook appeals failed, he cut it open to find a single 30 g packet of expired “world’s hottest beef jerky”
> – Why it matters: The stunt-like discovery fuels online jokes and leaves police with a smelly mystery
A routine jet-ski ride turned into an unforgettable let-down when Quoin Sellenger and his 13-year-old daughter, Belle, hoisted a barnacle-crusted safe from the waters between Denham and Eagle Bluff-only to discover its sole cargo was four-year-old beef jerky.
How the Safe Surfaced
A family friend spotted the box while diving and rang Sellenger. Father and daughter skimmed back on a jet ski, wrestled the safe aboard, and posted a tongue-in-cheek lost-and-found notice on Facebook on January 3.
The plea drew dad jokes instead of claimants:
- “That belongs in Safety Bay“
- “Looks like it’s in safe hands“
With no owner forthcoming, Sellenger and mate Brad attacked the rear panel with an angle grinder.
> Quoin Sellenger admitted: “I actually didn’t want to be there on my own, opening up a safe from the ocean.”
What Was Inside
The only intact contents: one 30 g packet branded the world’s hottest beef jerky, expiry date 2019, stinking up the cavity along with a pair of corroded hinges.
Sellenger’s wish list had been grander:
> “I was hoping there was maybe someone’s wedding ring in there, or Rose’s Titanic jewel of the ocean, or something like that.”
Instead, he suspects a prank: “Someone has put it there with the intention of it being found.”
Police Handover
The safe is now with Western Australia Police Force; no further details have been released.
Key Takeaways
- A diver’s chance find off Shark Bay became a viral social-media thread
- The safe’s single prize-a stale packet of jerky-spoiled dreams of sunken treasure
- Authorities continue to investigate the salty oddity
For Sellenger, the episode joins a long list of beachcombing curiosities-just none “as interesting as a safe.”
