Beachcomber wrong about free willy

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AUCKLAND, New Zealand, May 9 (UPI) -- An Auckland, New Zealand, beachcomber who reported finding a severed male penis has learned that similar-looking objects exist in the ocean.

Police from Manukau on the island's north shore sped to the scene when the horrified hiker called Sunday to say he had discovered a complete set of male genitalia - a penis and testicles -- shriveling in the sand.

Police communications spokesman Andrew Brill told the Wellington Dominion Post Monday officers reported the find was, in fact, some type of marine life, and not human.

"Maybe seaweed, maybe some sort of anemone ...but it was apparently very realistic," he said.

Asked how officers could make the determination without forensic laboratory work, Brill said he suspected they spared no efforts in the field.

"I assume they poked and prodded it and sniffed it to work it out," he said.