Innocent Beach Day Turns into Near-Disaster as Family Discovers Children Were Playing on WWII Bomb

What began as a peaceful summer outing turned into a chilling reminder of history’s hidden dangers when a family in Wales unknowingly allowed their children to climb on what turned out to be an unexploded World War II bomb.

Gareth and Kelly Gravell had taken their two young children, six-year-old Erin and four-year-old Ellis, to a beach near Burry Port in Carmarthenshire for a relaxed afternoon of sunshine and sand. While exploring the shoreline, the children came across a large, rusted object partially buried in the sand—covered in seaweed and barnacles. It resembled an old maritime buoy, and the family thought nothing of it.

Photos show the children smiling and playing on the structure as their parents looked on, unaware that beneath the weathered exterior lay a dormant but dangerous explosive.

It wasn’t until five days later that authorities closed off the beach and confirmed what the object truly was: an unexploded sea mine from World War II.

Bomb disposal teams were immediately dispatched to assess the threat. After careful evaluation, they determined that the device still posed a risk and carried out a controlled explosion on the far side of the harbor. A dramatic video of the detonation shows a massive plume of water and debris shooting into the sky—a sobering reminder of how close the family, and others on the beach, had come to disaster.

In a now-viral social media post, Gareth Gravell shared the original photos with a stunned caption: “So the buoy my kids were jumping on all weekend turns out to be a WWII bomb. Oops.” The post quickly attracted thousands of reactions, with many expressing shock and relief at the narrow escape.

“I’m still in disbelief,” Gareth later said in an interview. “We’ve walked that beach so many times—it’s a family spot. It just didn’t occur to us that it could be something dangerous.”

Kelly Gravell echoed his sentiments. “We even joked at one point that it looked like a bomb, but we laughed it off. It was covered in sea growth and looked like old junk. It’s terrifying to realize how close we were.”

Following the incident, local authorities urged residents and tourists alike to exercise caution when encountering unknown objects on the coast, particularly in regions with military history. Councillor Meryl Gravell of Carmarthenshire Council confirmed that the beach had been secured and emphasized the importance of reporting any suspicious finds immediately.

Experts believe the mine had been buried for decades, likely a remnant of coastal defenses used during the war. Shifting tides and erosion may have recently exposed it.

While no one was injured, the event has become a powerful reminder that the past can still echo into the present in unexpected ways. For the Gravell family, it’s a story they’ll never forget—and a close call that turned a casual photo into a life-changing moment.