A family in Stratford-upon-Avon were stunned to discover their car windscreen smashed by what turned out to be a meteorite. Paul Butler, 55, his son Nathan, 12, and the rest of the family dismissed an unusual loud bang outside as festive fireworks on Boxing Day.
However, upon inspecting the damage the next day, they found a small, shiny, black rock near the damaged car which belonged to Paul’s parents. Intrigued Nathan tested the rock with a magnet, confirming its magnetic nature – a hallmark of extra terrestrial origin.
Further online sleuthing supported the likelihood that it was indeed a meteorite fragment from space. “I was looking around on the ground near the car and right by the front wheel was a black rock that stood out from all the others,” Nathan said.
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He added the confirmation came after the magnet test: “I wondered if it could possibly be a meteorite but wasn’t sure until we used a magnet and researched it online.” Paul, a provider of forensic science equipment, said: “We all heard a loud bang in the night but didn’t think anything of it. We assumed it was probably someone letting off a firework.”
“It was only when we came down for breakfast the next morning that I saw my parents’ car windscreen was smashed. I went outside with Nathan and he was looking around and found this strange black rock.
“It had a strange shape and looked like it had been burned. After Nathan tested it with a magnet we looked online and it looks like it was meteorite.”
“It is the only logical explanation for what caused the damage because it wasn’t there when my dad drove into the driveway.
“It must have happened on the driveway. The glass was inside the car and was covering the dashboard and driver’s seat.
“The impact looks like it splintered the glass and made a fair bit of damage but it’s very lucky no one was inside at the time.”
Paul’s parents Graham and June were compelled to take their Toyota to a garage close-by to explain the highly unusual cause of the damage. Paul also mentioned: “We found out it was about a billion-to-one chance of a meteorite hitting the car in our driveway so we’ve started buying lottery tickets.”
Nathan is keen to bring the extra terrestrial find into Myton School in Warwick where he is a pupil, to show his peers.