Teen’s Act Of Honesty After Finding $3,500 Has The Whole Internet Cheering

October 30, 2025

Honesty isn’t just the best policy — for one Australian teenager, it’s a way of life.

Seventeen-year-old Josh Pache from the Gold Coast is being praised across Australia after he found $3,500 in cash outside a gas station and immediately handed it in — no hesitation, no second thoughts.

Coastal Demolitions

According to News.com.au, the money belonged to Daniel McKellar, the owner of Coastal Demolitions. He had received the cash from a scrap metal yard and stopped for coffee at The Fox’s Pantry in Tugun, where the bundle accidentally slipped from his pocket.

It wasn’t until Daniel returned home that he realized the money was gone.

“I freaked out,” he told News.com.au. But when he called the gas station, he got an incredible surprise — a young man had already turned in the full amount “without any hesitation.”

Wanting to find and thank the good Samaritan, Daniel shared CCTV footage online and asked the community to help track him down.

His post quickly went viral, and the next day, Josh’s mom recognized her son in the video while out at lunch with friends.

Coastal Demolitions / News.com.au

Josh never even mentioned finding the money to her.

“It’s pretty rare to find the younger generation having such a good moral compass,” Daniel said. “For him to just not hesitate, take it straight to the counter, and not even leave his name — it’s pretty remarkable.”

When the two finally met, Daniel rewarded Josh with $1,000 and even offered him a job with Coastal Demolitions once he finishes school.

Josh’s mom, Leanne, said she wanted her son to understand that good deeds deserve good things in return.

And the good karma just keeps coming.

Daniel later started a GoFundMe to help Josh reach his goal of buying a ute (pickup truck). The campaign has since raised over $10,000 AUD.