Divers who retrieved a drone from the seabed hope to locate a young couple shown in its video recordings and photographs.
David Steele, aged 75, along with his diving team, discovered the drone at the bottom of Geo of Sclaites, located off Duncansby Head in northern Scotland on August 18.
Although the drone is no longer operational, remarkably, the memory card remains intact and holds video content and images captured prior to its fall into the water.
The footage portrays a young couple enjoying their time with a dog, prompting David and fellow diver Greg Benson, aged 30, to seek out the individuals in order to return the card if it belongs to them, or discover if they have any information about the rightful owners if not.
David, who chairs the Caithness Diving Club, remarked: ‘Our club often encounters shipwrecks at various locations along the coast.
‘However, we came across a more unusual type of ‘wreck’ – a grounded – and submerged – drone resting on the ocean floor.
‘Initially, this was brought to the surface as part of litter collection, but Greg decided to investigate whether any data could be salvaged from the memory card.
‘Surprisingly, the card was still operational despite being submerged in the sea, and we managed to recover two videos along with several still images.’
One of the videos captures the drone descending – while under control – from the cliff edge, showcasing the surrounding landscapes and wildlife.
Unfortunately, the footage does not include its ultimate plunge into the ocean.
In the video, the registration number of the couple’s campervan – GD 936CH – can be viewed, which appears to have an Italian registration plate.
Retired David, hailing from Falkirk, Stirlingshire, noted: ‘While the drone itself is clearly beyond repair, we would like to return the memory card to its owners.
‘It’s possible that someone reading this – perhaps a campsite owner or a receptionist – may have had a conversation with the couple and learned about the lost drone, and might also have their contact information from the check-in at the site.’
Greg added: ‘Being able to return the footage is wonderful – you often see similar stories shared on social media about people returning lost items.
‘Yet, you never expect to be in this position yourself.’
Anyone with information on the drone’s ownership is encouraged to reach out via email to caithnessdivingclub@gmail.com.
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