9 hours ago
Man Living at Sea Shares Daily Life—Then Brings Out the Metal Detector
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A 27-year-old man from Australia gained traction on social media after sharing what a day in his life, living full time aboard a catamaran, looks like. Then he brought out his metal detector and shocked internet users with an incredible find.
In a viral TikTok video shared in June under the username @thegood_pirate, Baden LeSueur shares what a "realistic day as a solo pirate treasure hunter" looks like. It starts with a golden sunrise and a cup of coffee, before he sets sail to find local hidden treasures.
After climbing a palm tree to get a fresh coconut on Hammerhead Bay, and leaving his pup to nap peacefully, LeSueur grabs his metal detector and starts the search.
Immediately, the metal detector starts beeping, signaling something is underneath. However, when LeSueur unearths the finding, it turns out to be just a coin. Refusing to give up just yet, he continues the search, and after finding a bunch of waste, he finally gets another beep.
"I see a tiny bit a gold and at this point my heart is racing; I wonder if it's real gold," LeSueur can be heard saying in the clip, as he showcases his finding, a 22-carat gold ring with a red stone on top, which he still hasn't been able to identify.
Pictures shared by LeSueur show him documenting a day in his life as a "solo pirate."
Pictures shared by LeSueur show him documenting a day in his life as a "solo pirate."
thegood_pirate
Jewelry can have different metal density, and 22-carat gold is about 91.7 percent pure. According to at the time of writing this article, the price of gold is approximately $3,366 per troy ounce, although it fluctuates throughout the day.
LeSueur told Newsweek that, before living on his catamaran, he had started his own business, straight after high school, a jumping castle company that he owned for many years. But his goal was always to save up for a catamaran of his own that he could use to sail around the world.
"I used to post lots of ocean content and dreamed about producing my own videos to inspire people and help fund my adventures out on the sea. One day, I decided to take the gamble, sold everything, and bought a broken-down boat down in Sydney. This is when my online career really kicked off," LeSueur said.
Now he lives full-time on his catamaran with his number-one crew mate, his pup Kida, who follows him on his daily adventures.
LeSueur said: "From battling storms, to catching our own meals so we can eat, to finding people's long lost treasure on the bottom of the seabed and the crystal-white beaches along the Australian shoreline. With any luck, I'll hopefully be able to return the lost items to their owner or sell to a jeweler to help cover the costs of boat maintenance."
The pair eat a lot of what they catch along the way, spearfishing and lots of coconuts. LeSueur also always makes sure to have appropriate safety equipment and protocol on board, to keep himself and his companion safe. He checks he is always carrying an emergency position-indicating radiobeacon (EPIRB), and that he always lets someone know where he is and where he is headed.
"My dream is to continue the adventure, live off the ocean, and hunt for artifacts and treasure around the world. Since sharing my content, people call me 'The Good Pirate.' Sailing has been in my blood ever since I was a kid. My dad was a sailor and his dad was also a sailor. As a child, we spent a lot of time on the water," LeSueur added.
Among his findings, there has been "mostly junk," but also some occasional rings made of platinum, silver, or gold.
LeSueur said: "We've also found lots of coins, which I use to do my laundry.
"Every day is an adventure, even from a sail tearing in 35 knots of wind to a glass-out sunset with fish under the boat. Each day is an adventure," he added.
The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received almost 60,000 views and more than 6,000 likes on the platform.
One user, James, commented: "I'm stuck doing my dead job while you're doing this …"
Mike said: "Do you run any calculations on your lucky finds? I curious how much money does a pirate do from selling the gold."
Betty added: "What an incredible find! Must have been an amazing feeling to uncover such a treasure."
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