No Joke! Elderly Couple's Garden Ornament Turns Out To Be A Dangerous Bomb
Sian and Jeffrey Edwards, an elderly couple from Milford Haven in Wales, were taken aback when they discovered that their prized garden ornament, which they thought was an ancient 'dummy' missile, was not as harmless as they had assumed.?
What did the decorative missile turn out to be?
The surprise revelation prompted a bomb disposal crew to arrive and detonate the historic explosion.?
The missile, which was thought to date from the late 1800s, had become an important feature of the Edwards' garden decor. Unaware of its actual nature, Jeffrey used the 64lb naval missile to swat dirt off her towel after gardening ¨C a dangerous action considering the shocking truth behind their seemingly benign ornament.?
When was it discovered?
The drama began when police knocked on Edwards' home on a Wednesday evening after a passerby observed the missile, causing them to notify the Ministry of Defence as a precaution. The couple was alerted within an hour that a bomb disposal unit would arrive the next day.
When faced with the prospect of having to evacuate their street, the couple refused to leave. Sian told the BBC about the difficult night, saying, "We didn't sleep a wink all night. It took us by surprise. 'We're not leaving the house,' I said to the bomb disposal team. If it goes up, we'll go up with it.'"
How?did the authorities react?
The Ministry of Defence arrived the next morning, and after removing the missile, tests revealed that it was a live explosive with a tiny charge. The device was then covered with five tonnes of sand and detonated safely in a disused quarry in Walwyn's Castle.
The Edwards' emotional toll was obvious, with Sian referring to the missile as an "old friend." "It was an old friend," he expressed regret. "I'm so sorry the poor old thing got blown up."?
According to the BBC, the missile, which has a century-long history, was discovered on the beach by the Morris family, previous owners of the property, after warships for the Royal Navy utilised the region for target practice.
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