A man couldn’t believe his findings after spending 24 hours on the ‘world’s deadliest island’ and living to tell the tale.
Located in Gruinard Bay between Gairlock and Ullapool lies a small, Scottish island called Gruinard Island.
For decades, the isle was infamously known as ‘Anthrax Island’ after scientists carried out experiments that contaminated the soil during World War II.
Advert
The 1942 test saw anthrax spore bombs being set off, later rendering the island deadly and inhabitable.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Bacillus anthracis - known commonly as anthrax - is a rare, deadly bacteria that mainly affects livestock and wild game.
In 1945, the Ministry of Supply recognised the island was contaminated and judged it too hazardous.
Thus, visits to the island were strictly prohibited.
The secret experiments on Gruinard didn’t enter public knowledge until 1981 when an activist group known as the ‘Dark Harvest Commandos’ delivered a package containing soil collected from the ground.
As per Science Direct, the rebel group claimed they were returning the ‘seeds of death’ to their source.
Five years later, a decontamination effort was undertaken and in 2022 the island burned from ‘one end to the other’ by a wildfire.
Following the mysterious and ‘apocalyptic’ fire, YouTuber Dara Tah wanted to get to the bottom of the Gruinard Island mystery.
Moreover, he wanted to test his theory that the islet was still riddled with spores.
Last year, the internet personality and his friend Matt James headed to Gruinard to explore, test soil samples and reside for 24 hours.
Tah claimed he wanted to visit the isle to find out what the ‘government were hiding’ after the highly-publicised 2022 fire.
Upon entering the waters on a speedboat, the social media star donned a gasmask and white hazmat suit before plunging in and swimming to the island.
After disinfecting themselves and making camp, Tah and James went exploring.
“There seems to be absolutely nothing on the island, everything is just burnt,” he explained.
“I can’t see a single bit of wildlife. I’m only seeing skulls, there is no living wildlife here.”
The pair proceeded to visit different locations to test for any possible traces of anthrax.
After digging up ten soil samples, the duo sent them to a lab for further testing before staying overnight in their tent.
The next morning, Dara and Matt took down their ‘safe zone’ and waited in anticipation for the speedboat to pick them back up.
“I was beginning to question whether coming to the island was too reckless,” the video maker confessed.
“But thinking about what we’d learned so far it was clear someone needed to get answers and it might as well be me’.
Eventually, the explorers were picked up from the deadly island and transported back to the mainland where they later discovered the results of their soil samples.
“Anthrax island is Anthrax free,” Dara revealed to friends Quinten van der Heide and Ellie Whitby.
“Bacillus anthracis not found,” he read directly from a sample test report. “That’s so weird I can’t believe it! It’s done, they burnt it all away.”
In May 1990, the heirs of the original Gruinard Island owners purchased the island from the British government for £500.
Following the 2022 fire, a spokesperson on behalf of the estate told The Scotsman: "It hasn't caused any damage. It has done good. The island was totally impenetrable and the sea eagles killed any wildlife there.
"In around two months, there will be green shoots. It will certainly have done the island a lot of good. It didn't go out of control. It looked dramatic.”
Topics: YouTube, World War 2, History, Science
Ella Scott