A retired firefighter found a "small rusty land mine" as he was walking along a South Florida beach Friday evening, authorities said.
According to the Indian River Sheriff's Office, the mine was found in southern Indian River County, TCPalm reported.
"As soon as we found it, we went out and verified it was what it was reported to be," Maj. Eric Flowers, of the Indian River County Sheriff's Office, told the website. "We cleared the area and contacted Patrick Air Force Base, and they came out and removed it."
Deputies were unsure if the mine was live.
Flowers said he believed strong tides generated by hurricanes Dorian and Humberto played a role in uncovering the mine, TCPalm reported.
The area of Indian River County where the mine was found was part of the Fort Pierce Naval Amphibious Training Base, which extended from Vero Beach south to Jensen Beach, the website reported.
Flowers said old mines are usually found on area beaches "a couple times each year," TCPalm reported.
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