Busselton man tells of MH370 debris hunt
Busselton local Matt Franklin was camping with his eight-year-old son when the pair stumbled upon debris 5km east of Augusta initially believed to be that from missing flight MH370 about.
Mr Franklin said he found the debris about 6.30 on Monday morning on a beach West from White Point.
Mr Franklin travelled home to Busselton with the piece, approximately 2.3 metres in length and 2ft wide, on his roof rack arriving late on Monday night.
He said he sent photos of the debris to the Busselton Aero Club that night, which forwarded them on to Busselton Police, and attempted to get in touch with police at the Bunbury Police Station.
He said officers in Bunbury "did not want anything to do with it".
"They said if you think it's anything of interest, take it in," he said.
Mr Franklin was contact by Busselton Police on Wednesday and transported the debris to the station that afternoon, where forensics were waiting.
He said he was told to keep quiet about the discovery as soon as he handed it in.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau advised on Thursday after examining detailed photographs of the material washed ashore that it was "not a lead in relation to the search for missing flight MH370".
Mr Franklin said he contacted police when he found out the piece was confirmed to not be a part of MH370 and asked if he could have it back.
He said he was told police did not know where the debris was.
"If it's of no significance to them, I want it back," he said.
Mr Franklin said police would know exactly what the debris was from and said he definitely thought it was part of an aircraft and not from a boat.
