An Indian restaurant in Bath which launched a samosa into space prompted an international rescue mission after the pastry travelled slightly further than expected.
As reported by Somerset Live, Indian restaurant Chai Walla managed to launch the savory pastry and a wrap into space on its third attempt.
Niraj Gadher, who runs the eatery, told the site: “I said as a joke once that I would send a samosa into space, and then I thought during this bleak times we could all use a reason to laugh. The feedback is that it’s bought a lot of laughter from people and that’s what we wanted really, to spread joy.”
The first two attempts ended in failure, but on the third go, the samosa was successfully launched. However, Gadher lost all trace of the precious cargo after the GPS tracker failed to gain signal.
However, after returning to Earth the following day, the GPS tracker revealed that the package had made its way across southern England, crossed the Channel and had crash landed in Caix in northern France.
After an Instagram-instigated international search and rescue operation, local photographer Axel Mathon filmed himself recovering the bundle from a field before making a hasty retreat after realising he was in the middle of the hunt.
Gadher told Somerset Live that sadly the samosa and wrap had disappeared by the time the polystyrene spacecraft was found. However the remarkable discovery was picked up by the French media, with outlets covering the news of the samosa’s voyage.
Gadher added: “We’ve kept in touch with the guy that found it and he’s said when the world is more normal he’ll come over to Bath and meet us.”