Dad Uploads Innocent Picture from the Beach—Officials React Swiftly to Hidden Detail

Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in August 2015.

A Beach Day Turns Dangerous

A seemingly ordinary family outing took a shocking turn when the Gravells unknowingly posed beside an unexploded World War II mine. What they mistook for a seaweed-covered buoy turned out to be a 70-year-old bomb.

Mistaken Identity

Last Wednesday, Kelly Gravell and her two young children visited the beach near Burry Port, Carmarthenshire. They noticed an odd object covered in seaweed. Assuming it was just a buoy, the kids played around it while Kelly took photos.

The Discovery

Five days later, rangers from Carmarthenshire Council shut down the beach. They identified the object as a WWII-era bomb and quickly called in the bomb squad. A dramatic explosion followed as specialists carried out a controlled detonation on the other side of the harbor.

Social Media Reaction

Gareth Gravell, the father, shared photos on Twitter. He captioned them with disbelief:
“So the buoy my kids were jumping on all weekend turns out to be a WWII bomb. Oops.”

The images featured Erin, 6, and Ellis, 4, unknowingly playing next to the explosive device.

Erin and Ellis Gravell posing next to an unexploded World War II mine, Photo Credit: Kelly Gravell/Facebook

Close Call

Kelly later recalled how the family had joked about the object looking like a “big bomb”—without suspecting the truth.
“We were close to disaster,” she said. “It’s shocking.”

Despite the scare, the couple, who run a waste management business, plan to return to the beach—with greater caution.

A Lesson Learned

“We’re not worried about going back,” Kelly added. “But we’ll definitely think twice before touching anything unusual again. We even went back to watch the detonation.”

Official Response

Councillor Meryl Gravell from Carmarthenshire Council confirmed swift action had been taken. While the beach closure caused some disruption, she apologized for the inconvenience and thanked the public for their patience.

A Cautionary Tale

This close encounter highlights the hidden risks of wartime relics. Even decades later, these objects can pose serious threats. The Gravell family’s story serves as a powerful reminder: always stay alert when exploring unfamiliar objects—especially by the sea.