The Uninvited: A Chronicle of the Coombs Family's Encounters in the Welsh Triangle
The Welsh Triangle, a region of West Wales, holds within its boundaries a collection of strange and unsettling tales that peaked in the 1970s. Among these accounts, the experiences of the Coombs family stand out as a particularly vivid and disturbing chronicle of encounters with the unexplained. Their story, a blend of UFO sightings, eerie figures, poltergeist activity, and bizarre physical effects, paints a portrait of a family besieged by forces beyond their comprehension.
It began with a light. Not the familiar glow of a flare from the nearby military base, but a pulsating, white light that Pauline Coombs noticed one evening while washing dishes. This light, hovering near the cliff edge, seemed to possess a sentience, swaying rhythmically as if observing her. A chill ran down her spine – this was no ordinary light.
Days later, the strangeness intensified. Mark Matthews, the Coombs' nephew, while collecting birds' eggs, stumbled upon a chilling scene: a glowing red, saucer-shaped object near a silage container, and a towering, silver-suited figure emerging from it. The figure, over six feet tall with a square head and an antenna protruding from its shoulder, seemed to follow Mark, triggering a terror that sent him fleeing home.
The Coombs' farmhouse itself became a stage for bizarre events. Electrical appliances malfunctioned with alarming frequency. Lights flickered and died, fuses blew, and two televisions spontaneously combusted, their wiring reduced to charred messes. Their youngest, Leon, would wake screaming, haunted by visions of a "shadow man" in her room. Their eldest, Clinton, spoke of a constant, low humming sound that seemed to emanate from the walls themselves.
One afternoon, Pauline, driving home with her children, encountered the orange orb again. This time, it wasn't a distant light; it was a looming presence, hurtling towards their car as if intent on collision. Kieran, her son, cried out in fear. The orb swooped over the car, bathing it in an eerie, pulsating glow, before the engine sputtered and died, leaving them stranded in the gathering darkness.
The most terrifying encounter occurred one night when a colossal, silver figure appeared at their living room window. Standing at least seven feet tall, it dwarfed the window frame, its presence radiating an unsettling, otherworldly aura. Pauline’s screams roused Billy, who, in a desperate attempt to protect his family, sent their dog, Blackie, outside to confront the being. Blackie, however, was overcome with fear and ran off, leaving Billy to face the figure alone. The police, when called, were visibly shaken and refused to venture outside, admitting they were just as scared as the Coombs.
The family's troubles extended beyond the spectral. Pauline woke one morning with a stiff arm and swollen, burning eyes. The children developed unexplained rashes on their legs and feet. Leon, while staying with her grandmother, recounted a chilling experience of seeing a luminous, silver hand reach into the room where her mother was sleeping, gently touching her arm before withdrawing into the darkness.
Adding to the growing sense of unease was the repeated, inexplicable disappearance and reappearance of their cattle. On multiple occasions, the entire herd, over a hundred cows, vanished from their locked sheds, only to be found later grazing on a neighboring farm. These incidents defied all logical explanation, fueling the family's fear and confusion.
The Coombs also encountered two men in black suits, who arrived at their farm in a futuristic, silver car. These men, described as identical and somewhat inhuman, inquired about Pauline. Their visit, a classic element of UFO lore, added another layer of mystery to the Coombs' experiences.
One Saturday in November, Pauline was driving with her children when they witnessed a spherical disc hovering silently in the sky. It then rose, shot across the sky and then appeared to go straight into the rock face at Stack Rocks. Following its path, they discovered that the rock face had opened up like a sliding door. Nearby, they saw tall, silver-suited beings. This sighting was corroborated by Rosa, a hotel owner who had witnessed the same events. A local scuba diver also came forward with a story of a hatch opening in the rock and something trying to grab him.
The Coombs' story is interwoven with the research of Peter Padgett, whose book "The Welsh Triangle" explores the broader context of unexplained phenomena in the region. Padgett's work includes accounts from other witnesses and delves into theories about ley lines, ancient burial mounds, and secret government facilities. He even claims to have crossed paths with Clive Harold, the author of "Uninvited," at the Coombs farm.
Our Take:
The Coombs' experiences are a compelling and unsettling puzzle. While individual events might be explained away, the sheer volume and interconnectedness of their encounters suggest a more profound mystery. The fear and distress they experienced are palpable, lending a sense of authenticity to their claims. The fact that other witnesses, like Rosa, corroborated their sightings adds further weight to the narrative.
Peter Padgett's role in this narrative is complex and, frankly, problematic. While his research has undoubtedly contributed to our understanding of the Welsh Triangle phenomenon, his credibility is seriously compromised. His past conviction for benefits fraud casts a long shadow over his claims, and his tendency to weave his own narrative into the story raises concerns about his objectivity. While "The Welsh Triangle" is a valuable resource, it should be read with a critical eye, and Padgett's assertions should be treated with skepticism. His story, like the Coombs', is a piece of the puzzle, but it's one that needs careful examination before it can be fully accepted.
The Coombs' story, like many accounts of the unexplained, offers no easy answers. It's a reminder that there are still mysteries in the world, and that sometimes, the most extraordinary events can occur in the most ordinary of settings. Whether these events are attributed to extraterrestrial forces, government experiments, or simply the power of suggestion and human imagination, the Coombs family's experiences remain a chilling and compelling chapter in the ongoing exploration of the unknown.
Listen to our full episode on the Coombs family experiences here