Schoolboy's rich after finding Moby's sick

12:00pm Saturday 25th August 2012 in News By Jane Reader

Eight-year-old Charlie Naysmith with the piece of ambergris that he found on the beach Eight-year-old Charlie Naysmith with the piece of ambergris that he found on the beach

A SCHOOLBOY has stumbled across a rare piece of whale vomit which could be worth a staggering £40,000.

Officially called ambergris, the substance is highly sought after and is used to prolong the scent of perfume.

Charlie Naysmith made the discovery at Hengistbury Head, much to the amazement of his parents.

His find doesn’t look very exciting and most of us would probably walk straight past it, mistaking it for a stone.

But Charlie was curious enough to pick it up and, after a bit of research, he and his family discovered it is worth between £10,000 and £40,000.

Charlie, of Station Road, Christchurch, is a pupil of St Katharine’s school in Southbourne and has been on nature walks with his class in the area.

He is now trying to decide what to do with it and quite fancies using the profits to build a house for animals.

His dad, Alex, said: “He is into nature and is really interested in it. We have discovered it is quite rare and are waiting for some more information from marine biology experts.”

The piece of ambergris, which weighs 600 grams, could have been floating in the sea for decades before being washed up on the beach.

The family has been told it is unlikely that more ambergris will be found in the same area.

l Ambergris is a waxy substance from the intestines of a sperm whale, which is used to prolong the scent of perfume. It initially has a foul smell but after years of floating on the ocean, exposure to sun and salt turn it into a smooth lump of compact rock which feels waxy and has a sweet smell.

Comments(18)

samsmith says...
12:37pm Sat 25 Aug 12

University fees taken care of! Well done young man.

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mungobean says...
2:27pm Sat 25 Aug 12

Looks like the bit of french stick i had for lunch, if i'd seen that on the beach i would have walked straight past it! What a great find!

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buickboy says...
3:54pm Sat 25 Aug 12

Well done young man, I hope you enjoy any profit you make in whatever way you decide!

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Avengerboy says...
3:57pm Sat 25 Aug 12

samsmith wrote:
University fees taken care of! Well done young man.
Wine women and debauchery more like .... when he's older.But yes, looks like a 8 day old Asda French stick.

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Liz1102 says...
1:07am Sun 26 Aug 12

It may have been in the ocean for years, but I probably still wouldn't want a lump of sick quite so close to my face!

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sussexcherry says...
1:24pm Sun 26 Aug 12

It looks like my first wife's attempt at making Yorkshire Pudding!! Good luck to Charlie, I grew up very near to Hengistbury Head and have walked the beach many hundreds of times over the years beachcombing, but I must admit I would have walked straight past it!! He obviously has a keen eye, spend it wisely young man and enjoy!!

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Dibbles2 says...
8:05am Mon 27 Aug 12

Big stone! Looks more like a rock to me and I hate to say it but its illegal to remove rocks from the beach. Not illegal to take shells but rocks, pebbles etc are an environmental issue so DEFRA have laws to keep beaches intact.......which is why you can buy rocks etc in DIY stores.....understan
dable really. However thankfully this is not a rock so I guess no laws have been broken but people beware before you all start taking home random pieces from our beaches in hope of a fortune.

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Morrigan says...
10:17am Mon 27 Aug 12

It is not illegal to take one or two hand sized or smaller rocks away from a beach - but taking a trailer down to fill is another matter and it is that which the law is intended for.

Great find young man! You could have a lot of fun with that money :o)

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Yawwwn! says...
2:03pm Mon 27 Aug 12

Avengerboy wrote:
samsmith wrote:
University fees taken care of! Well done young man.
Wine women and debauchery more like .... when he's older.But yes, looks like a 8 day old Asda French stick.
Was there really any need for that comment? Don't judge others by your standards Avengerboy.

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PooleParky says...
1:20pm Tue 28 Aug 12

Hahaha when I saw the headline in the sidebar I thought they meant Moby the musician. That would be one seriously sad fan.

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Richard 1976 says...
9:06pm Tue 28 Aug 12

Spend it wiseley young fella and well done

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da200560 says...
11:34pm Tue 28 Aug 12

unusual for a techo star to vomit in the sea

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uvox44 says...
9:41am Wed 29 Aug 12

yes da200560- I thought that the headline meant he was being rewarded for thinking Moby was "sick" or good as these youngsters seem to use the word!

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stevobath says...
12:21pm Wed 29 Aug 12

Dibbles2 wrote:
Big stone! Looks more like a rock to me and I hate to say it but its illegal to remove rocks from the beach. Not illegal to take shells but rocks, pebbles etc are an environmental issue so DEFRA have laws to keep beaches intact.......which is why you can buy rocks etc in DIY stores.....understan

dable really. However thankfully this is not a rock so I guess no laws have been broken but people beware before you all start taking home random pieces from our beaches in hope of a fortune.
I bet your the type who keeps kids footballs when they land in your garden? What a misery guts.An 'issue for DEFRA'...Have you got a rock stuck up your arse?

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Imaximus says...
1:28pm Wed 29 Aug 12

I blame the imax and cyclists for this.

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MsAisling says...
5:53pm Wed 29 Aug 12

How about a pat on the head young man?!! One- for a job well done!! Two- so maybe some of that good luck will rub off on me?!?!? LOL!! Save that money for University and make sure you study on ways to save nature on our planet!

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bc2116 says...
3:18pm Thu 30 Aug 12

Check out this new book on the very subject!

http://www.amazon.co
m/gp/product/0226430
367/ref=as_li_ss_tl?
ie=UTF8&camp=1789&cr
eative=390957&creati
veASIN=0226430367&li
nkCode=as2&tag=4tasn
eem-20

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funkyferret says...
11:58am Fri 31 Aug 12

Has no-one else thought it rather bizarre that sometime ago, someone: a) actually identified & named this stuff, and b) someone else thought this would be good at prolonging the smell of perfume?
Or is it just me?

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