Newsroom
On a rainy day in late June, marine biologist Hayley Hardstaff discovered a Lego dragon on Portwrinkle Beach in Cornwall, England. It was a black plastic piece missing its upper jaw, but to Hardstaff, it represented a small part of one of the strangest maritime incidents in history.
Hardstaff, who grew up in Cornwall, had long been familiar with finding Lego pieces on the beach, often wondering as a child why so many toys were left behind. By June, she knew the answer. Her discovery was linked to the Great Lego Spill of 1997, when nearly 5 million Lego pieces were lost at sea after a rogue wave struck the cargo ship Tokio Express. Among the cargo were 33,427 black dragons.
The spill, which included many nautically themed pieces, has left a lasting environmental footprint. Tracey Williams, who runs the "Lego Lost at Sea" project, has documented finds over the years and created a community for beachcombers who continue to uncover pieces of the shipment. Her work inspired a book titled Adrift: The Curious Tale of the Lego Lost at Sea.
Since the accident, Lego pieces have washed ashore on beaches across the UK, Ireland, France, Belgium, and beyond. Oceanographer Curtis Ebbesmeyer, who has studied the incident, said that ocean currents act like “the world’s greatest subway line,” distributing the pieces worldwide.
Though the company that produces the toys called the event an "unfortunate accident," it has since pledged to focus on sustainability efforts.
Hardstaff's black dragon now sits on her bedside table, a reminder of the curious journey that plastic pollution can take.
[Information sourced from The New York Times]
