Exploding television recovered from sea

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 17 December 2019
  • Generated on 21 February 2026
  • IMCA SF 30/19
  • 1 minute read

One morning the crew of a workboat noticed an old television set floating in the sea near their work area.

What happened?

The crew decided to take the set on-board in order to prevent it from potentially causing damage to a passing yacht or fishing boat.

Just before the crew members were going to land the television set, it exploded violently, destroying its case and sending shards of glass all over the aft deck. The crew members were fortunate indeed; had their timing been different, the TV set could have exploded in their hands on deck.

Fortunately, in this incident, both crew members were still in the wheelhouse and fully protected. The television set was covered in weeds and shells, indicating that it had been in the water for some time.

The television set exploded violently, destroying its case and sending shards of glass all over the aft deck.
The crew were fortunate indeed; had their timing been different, the TV set could have exploded in their hands on deck.

What actions were taken?

Ensure that you are wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and treat objects recovered from the sea with extreme caution.

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