Army Bomb Squad Called After Ordnance Found On Drigg Beach
An army bomb disposal team was called to Drigg beach after a suspected piece of ordnance was discovered on the foreshore, prompting a specialist response from emergency services.
Millom Coastguard Rescue Team was called to the beach on Monday, August 17, after the item was reported. Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team also attended the scene to assist with the response.
Once the item had been located, the coastguard teams gathered details about its appearance and exact position before passing the information to the Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit.
A specialist Army disposal team from Catterick subsequently attended Drigg and safely dealt with the suspected ordnance, bringing the incident to a controlled conclusion.
The discovery serves as a reminder of the potential dangers posed by unusual objects found along the coastline. Items that appear old, damaged or partially buried can sometimes be remnants of military activity and should never be handled by members of the public.
Coastguard teams have urged anyone finding something suspicious on a beach to keep their distance and avoid touching or moving it. Even objects that appear harmless can present a serious risk if they contain explosives or other hazardous material.
People who come across a potentially dangerous item are advised to establish its location as accurately as possible. The coastguard specifically recommends using what3words to help emergency services identify the precise location.
The advice is particularly important along stretches of coastline where historic military activity may have taken place. Objects can remain buried or become exposed by changing tides, erosion and shifting sand.
The incident at Drigg was resolved after the specialist disposal team attended and dealt with the item. There were no reports of injuries connected with the discovery.
Coastguard teams continue to remind beach visitors that reporting suspicious objects rather than attempting to investigate them themselves is the safest course of action.
Anyone who discovers an object on the beach that looks out of place should move away from it, avoid touching it, record its location if it can be done safely and contact emergency services.
The response at Drigg demonstrates how coastguard and military specialists work together when potentially hazardous items are discovered, ensuring that suspected ordnance can be assessed and safely removed.
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