VIC:Vic mother discovers grenade just in time

AAP General News (Australia)
02-14-2011
VIC:Vic mother discovers grenade just in time

MELBOURNE, Feb 14 AAP - A Ballarat mother is relieved a muddy pine cone she gave her
boys to clean didn't explode before she discovered it was a hand grenade.

"I am not in line for mother-of-the-year," said Corina Wyatt from Ballarat, west of Melbourne.

She found what she thought was a mud-caked pine cone on Sunday after clearing up the
day before, and gave it to her 11-year-old son Bailey to look at.

Bailey and his 13-year-old brother Cody then set about cleaning up the object in the
family's bathroom.

But when the dirt began to fall away, Mrs Wyatt said she realised it was a hand grenade,
and ordered everyone out of the bathroom.

She said police came to look at the grenade, and the bomb squad was then called to
the house and they took it away.

The police explained to her that although the grenade's pin had been removed, it could
have residual explosives inside, and there was a small chance it could detonate, Mrs Wyatt
told AAP.

The grenade is thought to be of American origin, and was likely left over from the
home's former owner, who was a World War II veteran, she said.

Mrs Wyatt said it was not unusual for Bailey to find unusual things.

"A hand grenade wasn't on the list though. Being in Ballarat we were hoping for gold," she said.

AAP xlc/gfr/vg

KEYWORD: GRENADE

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.