A man has gone viral after unexpectedly stumbling upon gold worth millions while trying to install a swimming pool in his backyard.
Unexpected Discovery
The French man, whose identity remains anonymous, was renovating his house in Neuville-sur-Saone, near Lyon.
In May, while digging the space intended for a swimming pool, he discovered several gold bars buried underground, leaving him stunned.
Reporting the Discovery
Instead of keeping the discovery to himself, the homeowner immediately reported the gold to local authorities.
Police and officials from DRAC, the regional arm of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs in France, were called in to investigate the find.
Value of the Treasure
The gold bars are reportedly worth more than $812,000, which is approximately N1.1 billion.
Authorities confirmed that the gold had been legally mined in the region and had no connection to any criminal activity.
Legal Considerations
Under French law, unclaimed treasures found on private property can be kept by the discoverer.
However, officials noted that the former owner of the property may have had heirs, which could complicate the man’s claim to the gold.
Social Media Buzz
The story went viral after being shared on TikTok by @10newsau, generating widespread reactions from social media users amazed by the rare discovery.
Many expressed curiosity about whether the house-owner will ultimately be allowed to keep the fortune.
See below;
@10newsau More than $1 million worth of gold bars have been uncovered while digging up a backyard in France. However, what looked like a payday has turned into a nightmare for one man, who may be forced to hand over the fortune. 10’s Late News explains. #10news #france #gold
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