In an unexpected turn of events, a family narrowly avoided disaster after taking a photo next to an unexploded World War II mine, initially mistaken for a harmless buoy. Kelly Gravell, accompanied by her two children, spotted the algae-covered object on a beach near Burry Port in Carmarthenshire last Wednesday.
The 32-year-old mother was shocked when the beach her family regularly visited was abruptly closed five days later. Security officers from Carmarthenshire Council identified the object as a 70-year-old bomb and quickly called a bomb disposal team to neutralize the potential threat. Dramatic images captured a massive explosion in the harbor as experts conducted a controlled detonation.
Gareth, the father, expressed his astonishment on Twitter and shared photos of six-year-old Erin and four-year-old Ellis joyfully playing with the explosive device disguised as a buoy. His tweet humorously commented: “So the buoy my kids were jumping on all weekend turns out to be a WWII bomb. Oops.
Mrs. Gravell stated that during their trip to the beach, they were more interested in the shells on the object than its true nature. At high tide, the family happened upon the historic bomb, which they casually mistook for a buoy. Even a lighthearted comment about it being a “big bomb” was made without much thought at the time.
Reflecting on the incident, Mrs. Gravell said, “We narrowly avoided disaster. It’s terrifying.” The couple, who runs a waste management business, expressed their intention to return to the beach but emphasized that they would be much more cautious in the future.
Mrs. Gravell explained, “I wouldn’t have any concerns about going back, but we will certainly be more cautious next time. We will think twice before touching such an object in the future, and we even went down to watch the explosion.”
Councillor Meryl Gravell, a member of the Carmarthenshire Council’s executive committee for leisure, reassured the public that appropriate measures had been taken to address the situation. Despite the inconvenience caused by the temporary closure of the beach, she apologized to the public.
The family’s inadvertent encounter with the unexploded bomb serves as a reminder of the hidden dangers that military remnants can pose, even in seemingly peaceful coastal landscapes. The incident highlights the importance of vigilance and caution when exploring unusual objects on the beach, as potential risks are not always immediately obvious.
