Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in August 2015.

In a startling turn of events, a family narrowly averted disaster after unknowingly posing for photographs next to an unexploded World War II mine, initially mistaken for a harmless buoy. Kelly Gravell, accompanied by her two children, stumbled upon the seaweed-covered object on a beach near Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, last Wednesday.

What started as a joyful weekend at the beach for Gareth Gravell and his young children turned into an unforgettable—and alarming—memory just days later.

Gareth, a father from the UK, had taken his kids, six-year-old Erin and four-year-old Ellis, to a local beach in Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, for some sun, sand, and family fun. Among the many objects dotting the coastline, one in particular had caught their attention: a large, round item that resembled an old buoy. The children clambered onto it repeatedly, laughing and playing as if it were just another piece of seaside scenery.