Pictures show shotgun stock and cartridges pulled from Union Canal by Edinburgh magnet fishers

A magnet fisher who pulled out part of a shotgun and two cartridges from the Union Canal says he struggled to sleep later that night because of the adrenaline rush from his “best ever find.”
By Jamie McKenzie
Published 13th Jul 2021, 15:12 BST
The stock of a shotgun was pulled from the canal by magnet fishers.The stock of a shotgun was pulled from the canal by magnet fishers.
The stock of a shotgun was pulled from the canal by magnet fishers.

The 21-year-old, who does not want to be named, made the discovery with his pal under the Viewforth bridge last Thursday evening. The pair then contacted police who sent officers to recover the weapon.

It is understood to be the remains of a pump action shotgun and is incapable of firing. One of the pictures also shows a single red Ely cartridge beside it.

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The magnet fisher, who is part of the Facebook group Magnet Fishing Edinburgh, said: “We were both shaking when I pulled it out. After that I was up that night just with adrenaline.

It is understood the item is the remains of a pump action shotgun.It is understood the item is the remains of a pump action shotgun.
It is understood the item is the remains of a pump action shotgun.

“The amount of magnet fishing there has been at this same spot makes it weird that this has just been pulled out. Other people with a stronger magnet did not pull it out. It’s my first time magnet fishing that bit of the canal and they have been fishing it a dozen times before that.”

He also said that licence conditions for magnet fishing in the canal means they must contact police if they do find any weapons.

As well as the shotgun stock and two shotgun cartridges, the pair also pulled out a kitchen knife which was handed over to police.

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The 21-year-old, who has been magnet fishing for more than a year, added: “That’s my best ever find and I will keep on doing it.

As well as the shotgun stock and two shotgun cartridges, the pair also pulled out a kitchen knife which was handed over to police.As well as the shotgun stock and two shotgun cartridges, the pair also pulled out a kitchen knife which was handed over to police.
As well as the shotgun stock and two shotgun cartridges, the pair also pulled out a kitchen knife which was handed over to police.

“The magnet cost me almost £200 but you could spend that much on clothes that might not last. You are out helping the canals with dredging because our magnets go right down to the bottom. You also get to socialise as well and it’s helped people through the lockdown and gets you out and about and speaking to people.”

Police confirmed that they were called to the Union Canal at around 6.10pm on Thursday to a report of a suspected firearm being pulled out of the water.

A spokesperson for the force said on Monday that it was removed to a safe place and enquiries into its origins are ongoing.

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Magnet fishing is similar to metal detecting and involves using magnets attached to the ends of ropes to recover metal objects dumped in canals and rivers.

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