A sunny family outing nearly ended in disaster when an unexploded World War II bomb was discovered at a beach in Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, Wales—just days after two young children had unknowingly played on top of it.
Kelly Gravell had taken her two children, six-year-old Erin and four-year-old Ellis, for a day of fun by the sea. As they explored the sandy beach, the children’s attention was caught by what looked like a buoy, partially buried and covered in seaweed. Innocent and carefree, the kids ran toward the object and began climbing and jumping on it, treating it like a makeshift playground. For the family, it was just another joyful day spent outdoors. They had no idea that the object was actually a 70-year-old bomb left over from World War II.
It wasn’t until five days later that the true danger of the situation came to light. Park rangers inspecting the beach recognized the “buoy” as a potential threat. Upon closer examination, it was confirmed to be an unexploded naval mine from the Second World War. Authorities wasted no time: they called in the Royal Navy’s bomb disposal team to neutralize the threat.
Dramatic footage showed the experts carrying out a controlled detonation, sending sand and debris flying into the air. The explosion was a stark reminder of the serious risk the family had unknowingly faced just days earlier.
Gareth Gravell, the children’s father, shared the experience on social media with a mixture of shock and humor. “So the buoy my kids were jumping on all weekend turns out to be a WWII bomb. Oops,” he tweeted, drawing widespread attention and disbelief online. His wife Kelly was far more shaken. “We were very close to disaster — it’s shocking,” she said in a later interview. “You don’t expect to find something like that on a family beach day.”
Despite the harrowing experience, the Gravell family says they aren’t going to let the incident keep them away from the beach forever. However, they have vowed to be much more cautious and vigilant in the future.
Local officials issued an apology for the temporary closure of the beach that followed the discovery, emphasizing that public safety was their top priority. The area was thoroughly checked for any other potential threats before reopening to the public. Authorities also used the opportunity to remind beachgoers of the ongoing risks that war relics can pose — even decades after the conflict has ended.
“The presence of unexploded ordnance is not common, but it’s not unheard of in areas like this,” said a spokesperson for the local council. “People should always report anything unusual or suspicious to park rangers or the police. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Conclusion:
The Gravell family’s frightening brush with history serves as a powerful reminder of how the past can still cast long shadows over the present. What seemed like a harmless object turned out to be a deadly relic from a war that ended over 70 years ago. Their story is a sobering example of why awareness and caution are so important — even in the most peaceful settings. Thankfully, this story ended without tragedy, but it could have been very different. As the family returns to the beach in the future, they’ll carry not just sunscreen and towels, but also a deeper respect for the hidden dangers that may still lie beneath the sand.
