Lego Pieces Lost at Sea in 1997 Found After 26 Years – Is a Treasure Trove Washing Ashore?

Image: @BareFoot_IOS

On February 13, 1997, during a tumultuous storm, 35,500 black Lego container boxes plunged into the ocean when the cargo ship Tokio Express was hit by a colossal rogue wave. These precious Lego treasures, each containing an array of miniatures, including octopuses, dragons, flippers, and flowers, have remained lost at sea, with only a handful being recovered over the years.

A Rare Discovery

In an astonishing turn of events, @BareFoot_IOS, an avid beachcomber, recently uncovered not one but two of these long-lost Lego containers on the picturesque Isles of Scilly. The discovery has ignited speculation – could more of these fascinating plastic pieces be making their way to the shore?

The Tokio Express Saga

The Tokio Express, originally built in Hamburg in 1973, endured several name changes and ownership transfers throughout its history. However, it became famous for a fateful event in 1997 when it encountered a rogue wave off Land’s End. The ship teetered at a 60-degree angle one way and then 40 degrees back, resulting in the loss of 62 containers, including the one carrying 4.8 million Lego pieces.

The Great Lego Spill

The lost Lego pieces, numbering nearly 5 million, contained various sea-themed elements, perfect for toy kits like Lego Pirates and Lego Aquazone. These included swimming flippers, scuba tanks, life preservers, spear guns, octopuses, sea grass, cutlasses, and dragons.

A Never-Ending Odyssey

Intriguingly, over two decades later, remnants of the “Great Lego Spill” still wash ashore in England, Belgium, Ireland, and potentially even further afield. With a Dutch inventory keeping track of the lost Lego pieces, avid collectors and beachcombers worldwide remain on the lookout for these unique treasures.

Will more Lego treasures continue to surface along Cornwall’s coast?