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.