Dee Harrison, 56, proudly shared a picture of an ‘aurora’ over Bramford, Suffolk before it was pointed out the lights were from of a nearby tomato nursery
A woman who mistook an everyday industrial glow for one of the world’s most majestic natural phenomenons has had the last laugh.
In a tale that seems plucked straight from a heartwarming movie script, 56-year-old Dee Harrison thought she had captured the majestic Northern Lights over Bramford, Suffolk. Proudly, she shared the alleged ‘aurora’ images on the ‘Stunning Suffolk’ Facebook page last month, only to be informed the glow was from a tomato nursery’s LED lights.
The humble cleaner later realised the mistake, with the true origin of the glow actually being a vast greenhouse owned by Suffolk Sweet Tomatoes, confirmed through map checks on October 23. However, the story took a delightful turn when optical retailer Specsavers spotted her honest error and whisked Dee off to Iceland for a genuine glimpse of the auroral spectacle. Overwhelmed by the experience, she said: “It was amazing.”
Exuding gratitude, she added, “I feel so lucky that I got to experience it as I know a lot of people have that on their bucket list of things to do, but I was given it for free. It was magical.”
The initially befuddled stargazer recounted her early morning sighting while driving at 5.15am and how the camera seemed to bring the lights into sharper clarity. Despite the wave of awe her images initially received online, Dee confessed post-revelation, saying, “I had to admit defeat after that.”
“It was amazing. I feel so lucky that I got to experience it as I know a lot of people have that on their bucket list of things to do but I was given it for free. It was magical. I could see it while I was driving and when I pulled over, I could still see it from ground level,” Dee recalled.
“I held my phone camera up and I could see it even clearer. I’ve always been told you can see it better through a camera. I posted it on Stunning Suffolk and said I thought it was an aurora and people were commenting saying ‘Wow’. Some people were saying that it couldn’t be and when I got home and checked on maps and saw where the tomato factory was.”
“I didn’t know it had lights on it. I had to admit defeat after that.”
Dee was left gobsmacked when an optical giant offered her the chance of a lifetime after mixing up the Northern Lights with the glow from a tomato farm. She admitted, “Specsavers commented on the post and said ‘would I like to see the lights for real’ and I thought this is going to be a joke.”
However, it turned out to be anything but a joke as Dee jetted off to Iceland courtesy of the company and was thrilled to catch the actual aurora on her very first night. Reflecting on her experience, she said: “The Iceland lights were more impressive. Some people have said mine were better though.”
A spokesperson from Specsavers couldn’t help but get involved after hearing of the mishap, saying: “We all know that our sight and hearing can play tricks on us from time to time and Specsavers has always celebrated those relatable moments that remind us that we’re all human. When we heard about Dee’s aurora mix-up, we couldn’t resist offering to turn her disappointment into an incredible experience.”
“Even though the glow of a tomato factory made for a breathtaking photo, we were so glad that we could whisk her away to Iceland to experience the real Northern Lights. It’s a wonderful reminder that even a slight mishap can lead to unforgettable memories.”