“I was absolutely thrilled. Finding a note in a bottle is something I’ve always dreamed of,” said Shattler in an interview with SaltWire.
Due to some water damage, the note, which was written on the back of an Export A cigarette pack, was slightly deteriorated.
Shattler was able to determine that the bottle was thrown into the water at Fox Point, located 10 miles off the coast of Port au Choix, Newfoundland. However, she could only make out a few letters of the author’s name.
She shared photos of her discovery on Facebook, where they garnered nearly 200 shares and caught the attention of Rick Hamlyn, a man from Port au Choix.
“As soon as I saw it, I recognized the handwriting and thought, ‘That’s my dad’s,'” said Hamlyn.
Hamlyn revealed that his father, Gilbert, had a habit of launching messages in bottles, always written on the backs of cigarette packs, while out fishing. Gilbert Hamlyn passed away two years ago at the age of 72.
According to Hamlyn, this is the first bottle to ever be found from his father’s endeavors.
Shattler has decided to send the bottle to Hamlyn, who plans to place it at his father’s grave.
“Oh my gosh, my father would have been so happy to know that someone finally found my message after all these years,” exclaimed Hamlyn.
