A family had a frightening close call after unknowingly playing near a World War II bomb buried on a beach in Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, Wales. Kelly Gravell was spending a day at the beach with her two young children, six-year-old Erin and four-year-old Ellis, when they spotted what looked like a buoy covered in seaweed.

The kids happily jumped and played on the object, completely unaware that it was actually a dangerous unexploded mine that had been hidden there for around 70 years. Five days after their visit, park rangers discovered the object was an old, unexploded World War II bomb. Authorities quickly called in a bomb disposal team to perform a controlled detonation to ensure everyone’s safety.

Dramatic footage captured the bomb squad safely destroying the device, preventing what could have been a tragic accident. Gareth Gravell, the children’s father, took to social media to share the incident with a mix of humor and relief, tweeting, “So the buoy my kids were jumping on all weekend turns out to be a WWII bomb. Oops.” Kelly later reflected on the terrifying experience, saying, “We were very close to disaster — it’s shocking.”

Despite the scare, the family plans to return to the beach, but they will now be much more cautious when exploring. Local officials apologized for the temporary closure of the beach, assuring the public that swift and thorough safety measures were taken. This incident serves as a strong reminder of the hidden dangers posed by wartime relics still found in many everyday places. Authorities urge visitors to stay vigilant and report anything suspicious to help keep the community safe.