Lucas McGuire Featured in New York Post After Unusual River Discovery

What began as a hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic has led Lucas McGuire of Rome to uncover hidden history, return lost belongings to their owners and even help reunite a family with a loved one’s cremated remains. Now, his story has reached a national audience through the New York Post.

The newspaper featured McGuire in an Oct. 26 article titled “Magnet fisherman makes shocking discovery while casting for treasures: ‘Why was it in the water?’”.

The story highlights an unusual discovery McGuire made in the Oostanaula River while attempting to recover a fishing line and magnet he had accidentally dropped. After putting on a wetsuit to retrieve the equipment, he found a box containing a woman’s cremated remains.

Rather than leave the discovery behind, McGuire set out to find the woman’s family. Using an identification tag and help from relatives who work in the funeral business, he was eventually able to return the remains to the family, bringing them a sense of closure.

According to the New York Post, the woman’s husband had accidentally lost the box in the river while attempting to scatter her ashes according to Hindu tradition. McGuire’s discovery came exactly one year after the woman’s death.

For McGuire, the experience reflects how a hobby that started out of curiosity has grown into something much more meaningful.

“I actually got started magnet fishing during COVID after watching videos of people doing it online. I never imagined it would turn into what it is today!” McGuire said.

Magnet fishing involves using a powerful magnet attached to a rope to retrieve metal objects from rivers, lakes and other waterways. What begins as a search for interesting finds can lead to unexpected discoveries, from historical items to belongings that have been missing for years.

The hobby eventually opened the door to another pursuit: river diving.

“Magnet fishing eventually got me into river diving, which is primarily what I do now,” he said.

Through diving, McGuire said he has been able to uncover pieces of history hidden beneath the water, return lost items to their owners and help clean up local waterways. He has also found items connected to criminal cases.

“Through diving, I’ve been able to discover so much history hidden beneath the water, return lost items to their owners, help clean up our waterways, and even help solve a crime after finding a stolen weapon in the river,” McGuire said.

The national recognition has been an unexpected milestone for McGuire, who said he never imagined his online-inspired hobby would lead to such experiences.

“Being recognized by the New York Post is something I could’ve never imagined as a guy from a small town,” he said.

McGuire credits his faith for helping him see purpose in the opportunities his hobby has brought.

“I truly believe God has given me this opportunity for a reason, and I’m beyond grateful to be able to share my passion with others,” he said.