Dad Shares Innocent Photo Of His Son At Beach, Authorities

A Family’s Close Call on the Beach

In August 2015, a family in Burry Port, Carmarthenshire unknowingly played beside a hidden World War II mine, mistaking it for a buoy. Kelly and Gareth Gravell took their young children, Erin and Ellis, to the beach, where the kids climbed and jumped on the seaweed-covered object during a fun day out.

The Discovery

Just five days later, the beach was suddenly closed by local authorities.

Bomb disposal experts identified the object as an unexploded WWII mine. A dramatic controlled detonation was carried out, safely neutralizing the bomb. Gareth had earlier posted a photo of his children playing on it, writing, “So the buoy my kids were jumping on all weekend turns out to be a WWII bomb. Oops.”

Public Reaction and Family Reflections

The tweet went viral, with people reacting in shock and relief. Gareth said he was “completely stunned,” adding, “You just never think something like that would happen at a beach you visit all the time.” His wife Kelly admitted, “We were close to disaster – it’s shocking.” She recalled joking about the object being a bomb at the time, never imagining the comment could be true.

A Reminder of Hidden Dangers

Authorities thanked the public for their cooperation and urged people to report suspicious objects. Councillor Meryl Gravell apologized for the temporary closure but confirmed the right steps were taken. Reflecting on the incident, Ms. Gravell added, “I wouldn’t be worried about going back, but we will definitely be more cautious when we do.”

This near-miss serves as a powerful reminder of the unseen risks hidden in familiar places—and the importance of staying alert.