Viola and Steve Whitten used to love visiting their local beach after work. It was only a block away from their house, and the view was incredible.
A few years ago, they started collecting different kinds of rocks and pebbles, and the Middleton Sands was the perfect spot for that. They could've never imagined what they discovered one day at the beach.
An Interesting Discovery
So, when the couple came across an interesting stone while strolling on the shoreline, they did what any rock collector would do and took it home.
It was only a few days later that they realized that something wasn't right about the stone. And soon, the authorities would be knocking on their door.
Meet The Whittens
Viola and Steve Whitten were residing in the village of Overton, a block away from the Middleton Sands. They loved the area for its beautiful views of the Irish sea and peacefulness.
In their free time, the couple liked to go on long walks and discover hidden gems. One of their favorite spots for relaxing was Middleton Sands. And it was there that they came across an unusual-looking object.
One Day In 2016
One day, in early 2016, Steve and Viola decided to take a stroll on the Middletown Sands after work and look for some pebbles.
As they were sitting down on the ground, they noticed a giant stone nearby. It reeked of rotten garbage and eggs.
A Strange Rock
The smell was so strong that they had to move a few meters away from it. But then, Steven noticed a rugby-sized lump on the stone and went to take a closer look at it.
He was in for an unpleasant surprise.
It Was Unusual
This huge disgusting rock was unlike anything they had seen before. Viola didn't want anything to do with it, but her husband was determined to find out what it really was.
He carefully grabbed the stone and flipped it over. The smell was so strong that it made him nauseous. What was it?
Confused and Intrigued
Steven had read many books about rocks and minerals, but he had never heard of stinky stones being discovered on the beach.
Was it really just a rock? Or could it have been something else? He was determined to get to the bottom of it.
Decisions, Decisions...
The rock smelled like squid and organic manures. On the one hand, Steven wanted to leave this strange object because of its horrible smell, but on the other hand, he had a feeling that he had just made a discovery of a lifetime.
The couple always wanted to become rich, so they decided to take it home and see what it could bring for them. Little did they know that this would be a huge mistake.
Bringing It Home
Viola and Steven were hoping they could sell the strange rock and buy a static caravan.
So, they wrapped the object with Viola's scarf and took it home. They decided to keep it a secret as they feared that someone would spread the word about their discovery. And it wasn't long before they would find themselves in a critical situation.
Examining The Rock
As soon as the pair returned home, Steven began examining the rock. He put it on his scale, and it showed 3.5 pounds. Still, it wasn't enough to fully understand its origin.
So, he contacted the authorities, hoping they would be able to tell him more about the rock. And that was when he learned the horrifying truth.
Google Wasn't Helpful
Usually, when people come across an unknown object, they Google it for additional information.
However, in Steven's case, this wasn't enough. The articles he had found online only raised more questions in his mind. Soon, he would realize that it wasn't just an ordinary rock.
He Shared A Photo On Facebook
Before contacting the authorities, Steven also posted a photo of the rock on a Facebook group.
He was hoping that someone would recognize the object or at least have some idea of what it was. And it wasn't long before people began commenting on his post. What did they say?
Different Theories
People had all sorts of theories, some of which were very strange. Some people thought it was a meteor; others suggested they were remains of a sea creature.
Steven had almost given up hope in discovering the origin of the rock when suddenly he saw a new comment on his post.
Another Theory
One Facebook user who happened to be an amateur meteorologist suggested performing a magnet test to determine if the rock was a meteor.
Like many other people, he believed it was a meteor. However, as Steven would soon realize, no one was even close to identifying the rock he had found.
Looking For Answers
“It feels like a rock-hard rubber ball, its texture is like wax, like a candle. When you touch it, you get wax sticking to your fingers,” Steven said in an interview.
Steven couldn't stop thinking about the strange rock, and with each passing day, his curiosity increased. But it wasn't until he placed a magnet close to the rock that he realized he was in danger.
It Wasn't Just An Ordinary Rock
When Steven and his wife saw the smelly object on the shore, they figured it was just an unusual rock. Perhaps it had been sitting there for a long time, and that was why it smelled so bad.
But after a few days, they started to realize that something was off about it.
Performing A Magnet Test
Magnet tests are used to determine if an object that looks like gold is actually gold. Before these tests were invented, many gold diggers were fooled by fake gold that was worth nothing.
If the item was fake, it would stick to the magnet right away.
Feeling Frustrated
The magnet test revealed that the rock didn't have any iron in it, so it wasn't a meteorite. By that point, Steven started to get a little frustrated. The object wasn't a meteor, and it probably wasn't valuable either.
So what was it then? Since the internet hadn't been helpful, he decided to turn to a higher power.
Seeking The Help Of Experts
When Steven made that call, he had no idea how much this would change his life. He figured the authorities would know more about the strange stone and help him solve the mystery.
But he instantly regretted his decision when he saw a group of men in Hazmat suits on his front porch.
Waiting For Further Instructions
Steven wasn't sure if calling the authorities was the right thing to do, but it was the only option left.
When the experts heard his story, they told him to stay away from the rock and wait for their arrival. Confused, Steven moved the object to another room and waited for them to come.
The Authorities Arrived
The authorities in hazmat suits arrived and sealed his property right away. At that moment, Steven didn't know what to think. What was going on? Had he just made the biggest mistake of his life?
In the meantime, the officials grabbed the smelly object and put it in a safety container.
They Examined The Rock
Then, they placed the container on the couple's kitchen table and began examining it.
The authorities had to ensure the stone wasn't a threat to Steven and Viola's health. After spending a few minutes looking at the strange rock, they asked them to come in.
Waiting For The News
Steven and Viola were terrified as they waited to hear the news. They regretted bringing the rock into their home. What if this object is dangerous and now their health is at risk?
The experts glanced at the couple with a sad look on their faces. What did they discover?
It Wasn't Dangerous
Fortunately, the rock Steven and Viola had found didn't contain any hazardous chemicals, and it wasn't radioactive either.
They informed them that the object was harmless. But what was it then? And why did it smell so bad?
It Was Ambergris
They further explained that the object wasn't a volcanic rock, and it didn't come from outer space.
The authorities believe they had found an ambergris chunk that washed up on the shore. Steven and Viola had no idea what they were talking about. What is ambergris?
The World's Strangest Natural Occurrence
Ambergris has a strong, unpleasant smell and is one of the world's strangest natural occurrences.
Some historians claim that people have used its scent as a perfume before. But what is it exactly? And how is it formed?
It's Valuable
Ambergris is formed in the bile ducts of a whale, which is then excreted. While some people find it repulsive, others are willing to pay a lot of money for a discovery like that.
It's very rare to come across ambergris, and many people spend years searching for it.
The Role of Ambergris
According to scientists, ambergris was designed to prevent irritation in the intestines of whales by coating hard and sharp objects they ingest.
The whale's body eventually gets rid of the ambergris either as vomit or feces. This substance is produced by the largest of the toothed whales in the world - the sperm whale.
Sperm Whales
Sperm whales travel in groups of 15-20 animals and are often seen in the waters near Great Britain.
These animals can reach 57 feet in length and weigh over 63 tons. They had almost gone extinct in the 19th and 20th centuries.
It Was Used For Different Purposes
More than one million sperm whales were killed by people in the 19th and 20th centuries, and their ambergris was removed.
Humans used this substance to make different kinds of items and products, such as expensive perfumes and medicines. In some countries, ambergris was used in factories where it would get turned into soap, scents, candles, machine oil, and even pencils. But what about now?
In the '80s
In the second half of the 20th century, the sperm whales' population was on the verge of going extinct.
Luckily, in the 1980s, an international whaling ban was successfully passed, and the extraction of ambergris was also prohibited. So how did this change people's perception of this mysterious substance?
It Can Take Years To Produce
Sperm whales don't produce ambergris in large quantities. In fact, it can take up to a year for a whale's body to produce one chunk of it.
Ambergris is still highly valued in the modern world.
They Were Lucky
Only 1 percent of sperm whales can produce ambergris. This is why finding it is like hitting the jackpot. However, it is illegal to sell ambergris in many countries, including the United States.
This prevents the whaling ships from going after sperm whales and killing them. Fortunately for Steven and Viola, in the United Kingdom, ambergris is considered a byproduct. So what did they do with it?
They Weren't The Only Ones
Steven and Viola learned that they weren't the only ones who had found ambergris in the United Kingdom.
As it turned out, another man from Morecambe also found a chunk of ambergris while relaxing on the beach. And he made a lot of money off it.
Searching For A Buyer
He sold the piece for a whopping $155,000! This encouraged Steven and his wife to search for a buyer who might be interested in purchasing their piece of ambergris.
Would they sell it for the same amount or less?
Their Piece Was Smaller
The ambergris that the man from Morecambe had found weighed around 6 pounds. It was twice as heavy and big as the piece that Steven and Viola had.
Did this mean they were going to earn less money for their chunk of ambergris?
They Made $65,000
Steven was upset when he realized they wouldn't earn as much as the man in Morecambe, but he still made a decent amount of money.
The couple sold their piece for $65,000. So what did they do with the money?
Considering Different Options
The possibilities were endless. They could use this money to pay off their credit card debts and mortgage. They could even retire earlier, considering $65,000 was a pretty hefty sum.
However, Steven had other plans. How did he spend the money?
Buying A Static Caravan
After thinking it through, the couple settled on one idea. "If it is worth a lot of money, it will go a long way towards buying us a static caravan. It would be a dream come true," Steven said.
Not many people have been as lucky as Steven and Viola. In 2013, a guy stumbled upon something he thought was ambergris worth thousands of dollars.
It's Highly Valued Across The World
It was only two years later that he learned that it was just an ordinary rock. In France, ambergris is also highly valued. People refer to it as "universal cordial," or "the dearest and most valuable commodity in France."
In Yemen, a group of 35 fishermen found a 280-pound mass of ambergris and sold it to a trader from the UAE for $1.5 million. So next time you go for a walk on the beach, watch out for the "strange rocks".