A family had a close call when they unknowingly posed next to an unexploded World War II mine on a beach near Burry Port, Carmarthenshire—at first, they thought it was just a buoy.

Five days later, Carmarthenshire Council confirmed it was a 70-year-old bomb. The beach was closed, and the bomb squad carried out a controlled detonation.

During their visit, the family had been more curious about barnacles than the object itself, jokingly calling it a “big bomb.” Mother Ms. Gravell said she was shocked but plans to return to the beach more carefully.

Councillor Meryl Gravell assured the public that the situation was handled safely. The incident is a stark reminder that even peaceful beaches can hide dangerous wartime relics.