The Unbelievable True Story About the Recovery of Three Tons of Gold and Priceless Artefacts

By Underground Press

Published Thursday, 29 August 2024 09:16

Johannesburg, 28 August 2024: In 1989, maverick scientist Tommy Thompson stunned the world by recovering three tons of gold from a shipwreck deep in the Atlantic Ocean. But the gold transformed Tommy’s life in a way no one could expect. CURSED GOLD: A SHIPWRECK SCANDAL gives a glimpse into the 30-year story of adventure, deception, and personal turmoil, that followed, taking him from venerated celebrity to suspected conman and finally, a defiant prisoner who refused to give up his gold. The three-part series will premiere on National Geographic (DStv 181, Starsat 220) on Sundays at 21:00 (CAT) from 8 September 2024.

CURSED GOLD: A SHIPWRECK SCANDAL, from BBC Studios and based on the New York Times bestseller “Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea,” tells the true story of maverick scientist Thompson and his resourceful team who stunned the world with their discovery at the famous 1857 shipwreck S.S. Central America.

The series follows the three-decade story of adventure, deception and personal turmoil that takes Tommy from a celebrated explorer to an infamous fugitive and, ultimately, to the inside of a prison cell. With exclusive access to over 600 hours of archival footage and thousands of slides, prints, photos and newspaper clippings on the original exploration mission – many of which have never been seen before – the series is a cautionary tale of obsession and its devastating consequences.

CURSED GOLD is produced by BBC Studios for National Geographic. The series is executive produced by Alexander Leith, directed by Sam Benstead and Georgia Braham is series producer. Gary Kinder is a consulting executive producer, and Chris Kugelman executive produces for National Geographic.