A Giant Inflatable Duck Feared Lost At Sea Has Been Found Safe And Sound, Thank God
Daphne's home.
A large and beloved inflatable duck known to friends as Daphne has been found safe and sound after a week missing at sea.
I think I speak for us all when I say this is a huge relief.
Daphne, who is bright yellow and the size of a caravan, is the mascot of Cockburn Masters Swimming Club in Western Australia. She went missing a week ago during an annual ocean swimming competition, when strong winds blew her out to sea. Club President Peter Marr swam after her, but told the ABC that Daphne’s ocean swimming ability far outstripped his own.
“I probably overestimated my ability and underestimated Daphne’s hunger for freedom and she just bolted,” he said at the time. “After 50 metres she was just gone baby, gone. I couldn’t keep up.”
The club quickly issued a plea for Daphne’s safe return on Facebook, and offered a generous reward of ocean swimming entry passes and merchandise.
It’s understandably been a tense week for fans of Daphne, but yesterday a generous stranger came forward with the goods: one giant yellow inflatable duck, slightly deflated but mostly unharmed.
Toby Gibb, Daphne’s saviour, told the ABC he was fishing on Rottnest Island when the duck appeared mysteriously last week. It only took him this long to return it because, quite understandably, he had no idea where it came from.
Peter Marr said finding Daphne again was “like winning the lotto”, and that the club aims to head out to collect her today. Daphne herself has so far been unavailable for comment.