A report of a “human hand” discovered on Llangennith Beach near Swansea led to an emergency police response, but the situation was not as alarming as initially feared.
On a recent patrol at Rhossili on the Gower Peninsula, South Wales Police received a call from the coastguard about a possible human foot or hand found on the beach. The area is known for having parts of dead seals and other marine animals wash ashore, which can sometimes be mistaken for human remains.
South Wales Police posted on their Facebook page that the report involved a “human foot/hand” found on the beach. Given that seals have similar appendages with five digits, distinguishing between human and seal bones can be challenging for the public.
Gareth Richards, who manages the Gower Seal Group, was nearby when officers arrived and offered his assistance. After a four-hour search, Richards and the officers determined that the remains were part of a seal rather than human.
Richards explained to Sky News that a member of the public had sent photographs of the supposed “human hand” to emergency services. The photographs made the situation appear suspicious, but it was crucial to examine the scene in person.
The seal, which was about a year old, had been partially scavenged by birds. Richards confirmed to the police that it was acceptable to touch the remains for further examination. Upon inspecting the remains, he identified them as the webbed rear flipper of a North Atlantic grey seal.
Richards noted that the investigation likely saved the police and taxpayers a significant amount of money by resolving the issue quickly. He emphasized the importance of contacting authorities if there are concerns about potential crime scenes.
