Dig for treasure from former life

An American is to dig up part of a park in Swansea in search of treasure he claims he buried there in a past life.

New Yorker Jim Bethany believes he was a Welshman called John Seamen, who died at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

The wealthy 58-year-old, who has undergone regression hypnotherapy, says that before he was killed, he buried coins and silver jewellery in land now occupied by Swansea's Singleton Park.

Swansea Council has now given the antiques dealer permission to dig up a small area of the park in the hunt for the bounty.

But the council is refusing to reveal where exactly in the park the dig will take place for fear it will attract treasure-hunters.

This could be the biggest goose chase in the world, but if something is there, it will be amazing

Simon Westland

A spokeswoman said the dig would cover approximately four square metres and the site would be reinstated once the dig had concluded.

"We do not want to attract treasure-hunters who might start digging indiscriminately," said the spokeswoman.

Malcolm Ridge, chair of the Gower Society local history group, said: "Mr Bethany approached us about eight years ago claiming that he lived and married someone in Gower."

'Goose chase' "He says he found treasure while fighting in India."

"He bought it back to Gower and buried it, with the aim of retrieving it later, but got shot," said Mr Ridge.

The dig will be filmed as part of a documentary by a Cheshire-based company Activmedia.

Director Simon Westland said:" Some of the things Jim thinks are are the bottom of the park will blow your mind."

"He had no reason to pick Swansea because he has never been there."

"This could be the biggest goose chase in the world, but if something is there, it will be amazing," added Mr Westland.