BOY GETS REPLY FROM MSG IN A BOTTLE 4000 MILES AWAY

A Message in a Bottle: British Boy’s Note Travels 4,200 Miles

In a heartwarming tale of adventure and connection, an eight-year-old boy from South Shields, Tyne and Wear, has received an unexpected reply after tossing a message in a bottle into the North Sea. Harrison Mizen, with the help of his mum Laura, a civil servant, placed a handwritten note inside an old glass rum bottle because it “reminded him of pirates”. Little did he know that his message would travel an astonishing 4,200 miles to St Lucia in the Caribbean, returning with a reply that left him overjoyed.

On January 21, Harrison, joined by his parents Laura, 38, and Paul, 41, a heating engineer, along with his younger brother Max, four, ventured to Sandhaven Beach in South Shields. Inspired by lessons at school about this old-fashioned communication method, Harrison carefully penned his note, which read: "Hi my name is Harrison I’ve got a little brother called Max. We’re from South Shields in England. I hope this reaches you and I hope you’re having a good day." He included his home address and, with a hopeful toss, sent the bottle into the sea.

The journey was not without challenges. Laura recalled how the tide kept pushing the bottle back to shore. “Even when we threw it in it kept coming back – we had to do it so many times,” she said. Despite their doubts, the family’s persistence paid off. On September 23, a postcard from St Lucia landed on their doormat, much to Harrison’s delight.

The anonymous reply, postmarked September 8, came with a picture of Gros Islet on the northern tip of St Lucia. The note read: “I found your note while I was fishing with my dad … The bottle got caught on some nets like the ones on the picture. We’re having a good day thank you, hope you are too.” Harrison, thrilled with the response, proudly took the bottle and postcard to school for a memorable show-and-tell session, sharing the story of his message’s incredible journey.

Laura, reflecting on the moment, said, “Harrison is absolutely over the moon. It’s lovely that they have taken the time to reply. I can’t believe it got so far.” She admitted she had been sceptical, expecting the bottle to smash or remain lost in South Shields. “It easily could never have left South Shields,” she noted, amazed at the bottle’s transatlantic voyage.

This charming story of a pirate-obsessed schoolboy’s message finding its way across the ocean is a reminder of the magic that can come from a simple act of curiosity and hope. Through determination and a touch of luck, Harrison’s bottle not only survived the seas but also brought him a treasured memory that will last a lifetime.

*Photo released 28/09/2025*