Pokémon Card Collection Destroyed in Heartbreaking Loss
▼ Summary
– A Pokémon card collector lost his entire collection to severe water damage when a broken sewer line flooded his basement storage area.
– The collection included valuable unopened packs and rare cards like a Moonbreon, all of which were unsalvageable due to Category 3 contaminated water.
– The collector was unaware of the flooding for days because the storage room was closed off, and the cards had been soaking in sewage water for 2-3 days.
– He had stored the collection in cardboard boxes in his grandparents’ basement after taking a pay cut to help his father, and none of it was insured.
– The incident highlights the importance of proper storage and insurance for collectibles, while fellow collectors are encouraging him to livestream opening the damaged packs and are offering support.
The devastating loss of a Pokémon card collection serves as a sobering reminder for collectors everywhere about the importance of proper storage and insurance. Imagine watching years of effort and thousands of dollars in rare cards literally dissolve in contaminated water, this nightmare became reality for one dedicated fan when a broken sewer line flooded his basement storage area. The incident underscores how quickly disaster can strike, turning prized possessions into unsalvageable ruins.
Photos shared in an online collector community depict a heartbreaking scene: unopened packs from popular series like Astral Radiance, Surging Sparks, and Stellar Crown lay waterlogged on a concrete floor, submerged for days in sewage. The collector, who shared his story anonymously, confirmed his entire collection was destroyed, including binders filled with rare pulls like the coveted Moonbreon and a special Tomokazu Komiya Charmeleon illustration. He described the moment his wife called him at a store, reporting the basement flood. “My heart dropped immediately,” he wrote, realizing his cherished collection was sitting directly in the path of the rising contaminated water.
Due to the storage room being closed off, the flooding went unnoticed for two to three days, allowing the toxic water to thoroughly saturate every card and package. Making the situation more painful, the collector explained his cards were in the basement temporarily because he’d taken a pay cut to support his father’s new business. He and his wife were staying with relatives while saving for their own home, so all their belongings, including the Pokémon cards, remained packed in cardboard boxes. To compound the misfortune, recent hernia surgery delayed his ability to sort and rescue items once the flooding was discovered.
Category 3 water damage, which involves contaminated sources like sewage, renders porous materials like trading cards unsalvageable for health and safety reasons. The collector noted that nearly every item touched by the water had to be discarded. He reflected on the emotional toll, describing the countless hours spent hunting for rare packs in stores, the thrill of completing specific sets, and the memories attached to each card, all gone in an instant. None of the collection was covered by insurance, turning an already difficult period into what he called an “absolute nightmare.”
While this tragedy highlights critical precautions, such as avoiding basement storage, using sealed plastic containers, and securing specialized insurance, the collector’s circumstances show that following best practices isn’t always feasible. Life’s challenges, from financial constraints to health issues, can leave treasured items vulnerable. In a display of community support, fellow collectors are rallying around him, suggesting he livestream opening the remaining damaged packs and encouraging donations to help rebuild his collection. Comments ranged from chants of “Open the poop packs!” to empathetic messages acknowledging every collector’s deepest fear. As one supporter wrote, “It’s hard to spin this in any positive way. I’m deeply sorry you’re enduring this.”
(Source: Kotaku)
