From the Seabed to the Thames: How an iPhone Made a Small European Journey

A Lost Phone, a Snorkeler, and a Police Force with a Sense of Humor

In early September, around 10:30 a.m., on a windy morning in the Alcúdia Bay, a vacationer from England loses her smartphone during a boat trip. A momentary scare, a final wave — and the device disappears with a small bubble into the Mediterranean. People assume: that's the end of the story.

The Find

A 44-year-old vacationer from Ansbach was snorkeling with mask and snorkel on the same day. Between seaweed and small fish, something black flashed. He dove, pulled a salt-crusted iPhone, and brought it, dripping wet and sandy, to the nearest hotel on the promenade. The receptionist, preoccupied with her morning cortado and the guest list, took the device — with a shrug: "You should take this to the police."

When the Bureaucracy Paused Briefly

The local police station in Alcúdia was full of files and heated debates about mooring fees. The officer there was polite, but clear: "Property found at sea remains with us until clarified." The finder felt like a mail carrier whose package no one wants to pick up. So he took the iPhone back home — not out of spite, but from the simple feeling of doing the right thing.

Return Action from Ansbach

At home in Ansbach, a young colleague at the local police station gave the case new energy. While cleaning, one officer managed to find the emergency contacts. A friend of the owner called from the other end of the line: The owner lives in London and had long missed the device. Joy all around.

And then the surprising twist: A policewoman from Ansbach, Yasmine, happened to be planning a trip to London. Rather than sending it by parcel post or registered mail, she chose the most personal option: returning the iPhone in carry-on. No bureaucratic jargon, but a handshake and a smile at the airport.

What Remains?

From the seabed of the Mediterranean, over a hotel reception desk and a Bavarian police station to an apartment on the Thames — this iPhone has seen more than many all-inclusive vacationers. A small, practical tip at the end: those who set up an emergency contact number massively increase their chances. And yes: sometimes it is ordinary, honest people — and a random travel plan — that bring lost things back.

Keywords: Alcúdia, Ansbach, London, finds, police