Legos Wash Ashore The Cornish Coast After 17 Years In The Atlantic

KUOW | By Marcie Sillman

Published October 8, 2014 at 11:11 AM AKDT

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An octopus Lego from the 1997 spill. Most of the Legos were sea-themed.

Tracey Williams/Lego Lost At Sea

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Lego seaweed found on a Cornish beach.

Jo Atherton/Flotsam Weaving

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Lego sword spotted among the debris.

Tracey Williams/Lego Lost At Sea

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Lego dragons are a delight for the 'dragon hunters' among the beachcombers.

Tracey Williams/Lego Lost At Sea

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Writer and beachcomber Tracey Williams categorizes the Legos for her Facebook page, Lego Lost At Sea.

Tracey Williams/Lego Lost At Sea

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The Legos inspire creativity in some beachcombers. Artist Jo Atherton uses flotsam, line and netting to create tapestries.

Jo Atherton/Flotsam Weaving

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Artist Jo Atherton combs the Cornish coast for flotsam for her weavings.

Jo Atherton/Flotsam Weaving

Marcie Sillman speaks with retired oceanographer Curtis Ebbesmeyer, publisher of the newsletter Beachcombers' Alert!, about the afterlife of nearly 5 million maritime-themed Lego pieces.

The Legos fell off the container ship Tokio Express off the coast of England in 1997 and have been hunted by beachcombers, such as Tracey Williams and Jo Atherton, ever since.