Two goldfish were found swimming in a jug of radioactive water in a restricted area of a nuclear power plant - and officials have no idea how they got there.
The Comets were discovered at Perry Nuclear Power Plant in Ohio in an underground steam tunnel, located in a locked area with controlled access.
Usually no one is allowed in that area due to the risk of radiation exposure, but the reactor is currently closed for routine maintenance. The goldfish were found there by workmen last week.
Unfortunately the two fish died and tests later revealed them to be 'slightly radioactive', although it's unclear whether their deaths occurred due to exposure to the contaminated water, or lack of care. Their bodies were disposed of as radioactive waste.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says the incident does not constitute a security event — and it doesn't know where the radioactive water came from.
A spokesperson for the NRC said: "I can’t speculate where the contaminated water could have come from. There are locations in the plant that have slightly radioactive water. We are not aware of any type of leak from the primary coolant system."
Investigations are under way to determine how the goldfish were smuggled into the plant.
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