An explorer has shared a captivating find on TikTok after using Google Earth to spot a shipwreck off Britain’s picturesque coastline. The adventurer, known as Josh, regularly uses the satellite tool for exploration and couldn’t resist the call of adventure when he stumbled upon the image of what appeared to be a massive shipwreck.
Eager to see the mysterious object firsthand, he headed to Lands’ End in Cornwall, noted for being the most south-westerly point of the UK mainland.
Whilst documenting his journey, Josh remarked: “While scrolling through Google Earth, I stumbled across what looked like a massive shipwreck tucked away in a secluded cove along England’s stunning coastline,” and admitted: “Naturally, I couldn’t resist the urge to go check it out for myself!” His trek along the striking cliff-edge walk was as perilous as it was breathtaking. He warned: “Don’t let its beauty fool you – this coastline is deadly. There are over 130 registered shipwrecks here.”
The explorer’s persistence paid off when he spotted a small structure from afar, which turned out to be an old coastguard lookout post. His primary quest came to fruition shortly afterwards when he encountered the elusive shipwreck, now nothing more than a rusting hulk in a serene, hidden cove.
“It looks absolutely massive,” he exclaimed as he began a perilous descent down the rocky terrain to get a closer look. “It looks like part of the ship has broken off,” he observed, commenting on the sizable metal debris strewn across the cove.
Upon boarding the tilted deck, Josh encountered a door amidst corroding ladders and window frames; stepping through, he found only empty chambers. “This is a crazy place,” he proclaimed with excitement. “But it left me wondering why did this massive ship wreck here?”.
“The hike to the wreck was breathtaking,” Josh recollected later. The formidable coastal cliffs and the crashing waves below offered a dramatic yet magnificent setting for his adventure.
He remarked on his fortune with the weather that greatly enhanced his journey.
But, he also pressed on the need for caution. “Exploring shipwrecks can be dangerous,” he warned seriously, stressing the risks like unstable structures and sharp edges.
Josh highlighted his professional expertise, reminding that his actions are not supposed to be replicated and urged always to prioritise safety by steering clear of entering or climbing shipwrecks.
One local wrote in response: “I live in Cornwall and I had no clue that was there!” A second added: “I remember seeing that shipwreck years ago it was in a much better state. Sad how time erodes this stuff.”
A third person, meanwhile, claimed the ship was the RMS Mülheim, a German cargo ship that ran aground as recently as 2003. Indeed, Cornwall Live, states: “On a foggy morning around 5am on 22 March 2003, RMS Mülheim, a 294ft cargo vessel carrying 2,200 tonnes of scrap car plastic, ran aground in Gamper Bay between Sennen Cove and Lands’ End.
“The story goes that the chief officer of RMS Mülheim on watch had caught his trousers in the lever of his chair, fallen over and passed out. By the time he regained consciousness, there was nothing he could do to stop the ship hitting the rocks. Sennen Lifeboat and Land’s End Coastguard rescue team were quickly on scene and the six Polish crew members were airlifted to safety by a search and rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose.”