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The experience shown by the Prop Department channel began as a search for metallic objects in an area near a lighthouse and ended with the discovery of an apparently modified shotgun. The equipment used weighs about 800 pounds, belonged to a robotic cardiac surgery system, and was operated on a barge with a crane.
A permanent magnet taken from a machine used in robotic cardiac surgeries was transformed into a magnetic fishing tool and ended up finding a shotgun with the serial number scraped off. The experience was recorded by the Prop Department channel in a video published on January 12.
Weighing approximately 800 pounds, equivalent to more than 360 kilograms, the equipment was installed on a barge equipped with a crane. The proposal was to lower the magnet to the bottom of a coastal area in Florida, United States, and check which metallic objects had remained hidden under the water.
The location chosen for the first attempts was near a lighthouse and a historic district, about six miles from the starting point. According to those responsible for the channel, the presence of an old hotel and historic buildings increased the possibility of objects having been lost or discarded in that region over the years.
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Initial searches yielded only small objects
Despite the magnet’s power, the first descents did not produce the expected result. The equipment was placed near the bottom while the barge moved slowly, allowing the magnetic field to cover a larger area.
In the first check, the group found only a small piece of metal covered by dirt and marine organisms. At another point, the magnet picked up a fishing hook. The participants highlighted that the object could pose a risk to turtles and other animals if it remained in the environment.
The strength of the current and the accumulation of mud made the work difficult. Heavy objects could be completely buried, reducing the magnetic field’s ability to reach them. Even so, the team continued to explore the region in search of metal structures, tools, boat parts, or historical objects.
The operation was interrupted by agents responsible for maritime inspection. During the approach, irregularities related to the vessel’s mandatory equipment, such as a fire extinguisher, buoy, sound device, documents, and identification, were pointed out.
After the instructions, the group resumed the activity in another stretch of the coast, accompanied by the barge owner.
Area near a bridge changed the course of the search
The most important discovery happened near a bridge and an old restaurant. The location was suggested by the boat owner, who knew the area and believed that the bottom could concentrate objects discarded over time.
In the first passes, the magnet retrieved a small piece resembling a case, a tool, and pliers covered in mud. The material indicated that metallic objects had accumulated in the section.
During a new attempt, information emerged that a motorcyclist had stopped on the bridge months before and thrown something into the water. The story was not confirmed, but it led the participants to focus their searches on that spot.
Shortly after, the crane began to lift a larger object. When the material appeared above the surface, the group identified the barrel and part of the structure of a shotgun.
The weapon was covered in mud and aquatic organisms. According to the recording participants, it was a Mossberg shotgun that had been shortened. Much of the external components were no longer present, possibly because some parts were made of plastic and were not attracted by the magnet.
The detail that caught the most attention was the serial number, which appeared to have been scratched off. The participants raised the possibility that the weapon was linked to some criminal activity, but there was no information during the recording to confirm its origin or possible use in a crime.
Police were called after shotgun removal
With the end of the day and the reduction of light, the team ended the magnetic fishing and took the barge back. As the tide was low, the crane needed to reach about 30 feet to remove the magnet from the water and place it back on the trailer.
After storing the equipment, the channel managers contacted the police’s non-emergency line. During the call, they reported finding a firearm with the serial number apparently erased and asked how they should proceed.
A sheriff’s representative came to the location, examined the shotgun, and collected the object. The video does not provide further information about forensic analysis, owner identification, or possible connection of the weapon to any investigation.
Magnet was used to move catheter inside the heart
Besides the search at the sea bottom, the video showed the origin of the equipment. The magnet had belonged to a robotic magnetic navigation machine developed to assist medical procedures in the heart.
The system uses two large magnets positioned around the patient. By changing the orientation of the magnetic field, the equipment allows the doctor to guide a catheter with extremely precise movements inside the heart.
This type of technology can be used in ablation procedures, in which certain areas of cardiac tissue responsible for rhythm alterations are isolated or treated. The doctor controls the catheter from a station, while the system adjusts the position of the magnets.
The visit also showcased different generations of the machine. The latest models have become smaller, easier to install, and feature structures designed to limit the dispersion of the magnetic field.
According to the manufacturer’s representatives interviewed in the video, surgical robots of this size can cost around US$ 2 million. Meanwhile, the large magnet used in the fishing operation would have cost about US$ 100,000 when it was manufactured.
Originally created to help doctors guide instruments inside the heart, the equipment ended the day fulfilling a completely different function: retrieving from the bottom of the water a weapon whose history now depends on the authorities’ analysis.
