GENEVA

The National Maritime Museum in the Polish city of Gdansk has launched a search for the owner of a teddy bear found floating near a 19th-century shipwreck in the Bay of Gdansk, the TVP World reported Monday.

A team of Polish underwater archaeologists spotted the soaked toy as they were returning from a dive in the Motlawa River. The bear, which had a neat bowtie and large black eyes, was taken on board and brought back to the museum, where staff began efforts to identify its owner.

The museum shared photos of the bear on social media, with the message, "The rescued bear is looking for its friend," adding that the toy was "okay, though a bit cold and probably very homesick."

Lukasz Grygiel from the museum told the public broadcaster TVP3 Gdansk that while some might see it as just a toy, its loss could deeply affect a child.

"Some might say it's just a small stuffed animal, but we consider that the loss of the toy could be a tragedy for a child crying for their fluffy friend," he said. "If you know who might have lost this fluffy friend, please contact us. May this sea story have a happy ending."

The appeal quickly drew a wave of public attention, with many social media users leaving messages of support.

Despite the attention, the identity of the bear's owner remains unknown.