A journalist has unexpectedly recovered his iPhone after a giant grouper swallowed it last September. This iPhone recovery took place at a fish farm in Kaohsiung’s Yongan District. Journalist Chen Chih-tung visited the farm to photograph the massive fish. The giant grouper suddenly leaped from the water and knocked the phone from his hands. Consequently the fish swallowed the iPhone 16 Pro Max whole.
Seven massive groupers lived in the pond at that time. Therefore Chen could not identify which one had eaten his device. Friends joked that he should call the grouper’s phone number. Others quipped that even the fish used a newer model than they did. Nevertheless the farm owner texted Chen two weeks ago with surprising news. The fish had died, and workers found a cell phone inside its stomach. This iPhone recovery thus ended an eight-month mystery.
The owner reported that the grouper was 23 years old. It measured longer than one meter and weighed nearly 100 kilograms. Chen felt somewhat guilty about the fish’s death. He wondered whether the swallowed phone might have contributed to its demise. However the owner reassured him that life and death are normal at a fish farm. Therefore this iPhone recovery came with mixed emotions for the journalist.
Chen has arranged to visit the farm’s newly opened bistro in Kaohsiung on Friday. The owner plans to hold a jokingly named summoning ritual for the iPhone 16. They will test whether the device can still power on after eight months. The phone spent all that time inside the fish’s stomach. Chen shared his story on Facebook, where it quickly went viral. Many people expressed amazement at this unusual iPhone recovery. The farm owner kept the phone as a souvenir until Chen’s arrival. Both men hope the phone might still function after cleaning. Even if it does not work, the story remains memorable.
Chen plans to write a follow-up post after Friday’s test. The bistro may even display the phone as a conversation piece. For now, the journalist waits eagerly to see his long-lost device again. This remarkable iPhone recovery shows that truth can be stranger than fiction. The giant grouper’s unintended meal created a tale that will last for years.
