UK Coastguard Issues Warning Regarding Military Flares

Sandymouth, United Kingdom A Coastguard team in North Cornwall issued a warning regarding military flares on Cornish beaches. The Bude Coastguard Rescue Team published the warning after it was called to two separate incidents in 24 hours involving military-grade flares.

One of the flares found was marked 'US Navy'. The flares are typically usually used for search and rescue operations or to cordon off areas. The warning posted to the Bude Coastguard Rescue Team's social media page, read, "Bude Coastguard Rescue Team were paged for a second time today at 16:49 and once again tasked to investigate a report from Sandymouth Lifeguards of a second phosphorous submarine flare that had been washed up onto the beach and discovered by a member of the public who subsequently handed it to the lifeguards. Understanding the serious danger posed by the object, the lifeguards placed the flare by the cliff face nearby and created a safety cordon."

Once the Rescue Team arrived, images were sent to Falmouth who in turn passed them to the Royal Navy's EOD Unit. The unit immediately diverted from another less critical task to attend to the phosphorous flare at Sandymouth.

Once on scene, and with the beach cleared and a cordon established by the Rescue Team, EOD successfully detonated the device. Once given the all clear, the beach was reopened.

The warning continued, ""If you see any object on the beach which you believe might be a discarded marine flare or some form of pyrotechnic device or ordnance, please DO NOT touch it or attempt to move it - please note its position, and dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard."