Exploding flint from beach bonfire cuts coastguard

Indy Almroth-WrightSouth of England
News imageLyme Regis Coastguard Coastguard truck parked up on clifftop at night with bright light on to the rear of the truck.Lyme Regis Coastguard
A coastguard officer's ear was cut by an exploding flint from the "large, vigorous" beach bonfire

A coastguard officer has been injured after a flint from a beach bonfire exploded.

Coastguard teams from Lyme Regis spotted the abandoned "vigorously" burning fire at Charmouth Beach near Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre in Dorset on Sunday night as they returned from a false alarm on the cliffs.

Charmouth Fire Station who put the fire out said flint within the large unattended bonfire blasted from the flames and cut the ear of a coastguard officer.

The fire service said: "If you must have a fire at the beach use a raised fire pit, do not light fires on rocks as they can explode, and make sure fires are completely out before leaving."