By ALENA HIGGINS
A TEENAGER is lucky to be alive after he disturbed a World War II mortar shell at a Warwick property on Tuesday.
John Dwan, 16, was on his grandfather’s property near Morgan Park when he discovered a metal object sticking out to the ground.
The curious teenager dug up the object and threw it in his ute to show his grandfather, who immediately phoned authorities.
Warwick police secured the area and guarded the mortar shell until the Australian Army attended the scene to dispose of the bomb.
To detonate the bomb, Army officers placed it deep underground, but it still produced an impressive blast, according to onlookers.
An Army representative said the boy was lucky to be alive to tell his story.
During World War II, an Australian Army’s detention barracks was located on the south side of Warwick, east of the New England Highway and north of Flitcroft Street.
The detention barracks at Warwick were reputedly the scene of violent riots during the war.
