Woman amazed by bottle's 300-mile journey

 

CLAYMONT, Del., Nov. 30 (UPI) -- The woman who released a message in a bottle from the New Jersey coast as part of a contest 24 years ago has come forward to claim her prize.

Heidi Mozza, 30, of Claymont, Del., dropped the green soda bottle into the Atlantic Ocean in summer 1985 as part of a "Message in a Bottle Contest" in Ocean City, N.J., and the bottle was discovered recently in Duck, N.C., the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Monday.

Ocean City spokesman Mark Soifer said officials sought the owner of the bottle by sending social networking Web site messages to several people with Mozza's maiden name, Heidi Werstler.

"I just can't believe it finally surfaced after 24 years. Also, I just can't believe the plastic lasted that long," Mozza said.

The people who found the bottle followed the instructions inside and contacted the Soifer's office. The spokesman said the city considers Mozza to be the winner, despite the fact that the contest officially ended in August 1985.

Soifer said the city will honor the original prize of the contest, a stay in one of the city's motels.