Sighting in Batz-sur-Mer, August 24, 2023

The witness had finished work around 11 pm or 11:30 pm and went to a gym for a late-night session, between 12:30 and 1:30 am. They were walking back along the coast to the campsite where they were on holiday when, at around 1:30–1:40 am, they noticed a white point of light, fixed and very bright, slightly smaller in size than the Moon. Puzzled, they briefly wondered whether it was the Moon, but they were adamant that it was not. They phoned their cousin, who had stayed at the campsite, to describe what they were seeing; the cousin was unimpressed and went back to bed. The witness stayed on the spot for another 20 to 30 minutes, fascinated.

On the Saint-Michel beach, a group of teenagers aged 13 to 15 was having a midnight swim. Around 2 am, when they left, the witness went to talk to them. They had also noticed the light and confirmed it was not the Moon, although they had little interest in it. Around 2:30 am, the witness left to go to bed, as they had to work the next morning; the light was still there, motionless in the sky.

The GEIPAN considered the consistency of the case less than optimal but sufficient to reach a sound conclusion, and the video supplied could be analysed and strengthened the coherence of the file. The study of the case and consultation with a maritime expert formally identified the phenomenon as the powerful searchlight of the ship TRITON, which was in the area at the time of the sighting. The case was classified A.