Last Updated on: 22nd November 2023, 02:43 am
Netflix’s ‘Encounters’ Explores Mysterious UFO Phenomenon in the UK
Netflix’s latest documentary series, ‘Encounters,’ delves into one of the UK’s most enigmatic UFO mysteries, as it investigates a string of extraterrestrial encounters in the remote Welsh village of Broad Haven. The production, backed by Steven Spielberg’s company, has unearthed a treasure trove of accounts from residents who were part of one of the largest mass sightings in the country.
The village of Broad Haven earned its reputation as the “Bermuda Triangle” of unexplained craft sightings and strange encounters with otherworldly beings, with over 450 reported incidents. These incidents, which include sightings of flying saucers, 7ft tall alien-like figures emerging from hedges, and “cigar-shaped” UFOs near schoolyards, occurred over a single year in the late 1970s.
The enigmatic wave of events unfolded in 1977, during the height of the Cold War and amidst the cinematic release of iconic science fiction films such as ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind,’ directed by none other than Steven Spielberg. The heightened awareness of extraterrestrial possibilities brought international attention to Broad Haven when 16 schoolchildren claimed to have witnessed a UFO in the skies above Pembrokeshire.
One of the children described the sighting, saying, “The spaceship looked like a cigar shape with a dome on it with yellowy, orange to red light on the top of it.” Another child claimed to have seen a mysterious figure accompanying the UFO, stating, “I saw a man, but I couldn’t see its face because it was too far away.”
Over 45 years later, the now-adult witnesses maintain that their experiences were not mere childish hoaxes. David Davies, now 57, was among the sceptics initially, but when he ventured outside to see for himself, he was confronted by a silver, cigar-shaped object approximately 45ft long. “Mothers can tell when you’re lying,” he said, “and [mine] was absolutely convinced what I was saying was the truth.”
The witnesses were asked to provide drawings and written accounts of their sightings upon returning to school. Headmaster Ralph Llewhellin ensured that the children were separated to prevent any possibility of collaboration. Remarkably, all the descriptions were said to be “similar.”
The schoolyard sighting was only the beginning of the strange occurrences in Broad Haven. As the media descended on the village, other residents reported their own close encounters with peculiar crafts and mysterious creatures.
Hotel owner Rose Granville claimed to have seen a spacecraft from her window, and she later reported two figures emerging from it. Her daughter Francine described the figures as having “very long arms and legs” and lacking facial features. The Granvilles noted a scorch mark and a ridge on the ground where the spaceship had landed.
Mark Morston, another resident, asserted that he not only saw a spaceship but also came face-to-face with an otherworldly figure. He recounted seeing an “upside-down saucer in a glow” on a ridge near his house and then hearing a rustle in a nearby hedge. A towering 7ft figure with a silver suit and a motorbike visor-like face emerged, causing Mark to flee in fear.
The Broad Haven Triangle, as it came to be known, was not limited to a single event but encompassed numerous sightings and encounters. The unexplained aerial phenomena led to speculation, with some suggesting that the aircraft were merely planes heading to the nearby Royal Air Force base at Brawdy. However, witnesses to the UFOs insisted that what they saw were not ordinary jets.
The ‘Encounters’ director, Yon Motskin, emphasized the significance of the numerous witnesses. “That critical mass with 450 people is huge and also entertaining,” he said. He also pointed out that many of those who spoke publicly in 1977 about their close encounters did not benefit from telling their stories, as it often impacted them negatively, including incidents of bullying.
The story eventually attracted the attention of Amblin Television, Spielberg’s production house, known for creating science fiction blockbusters like ‘E.T.,’ ‘Back to the Future,’ ‘War of the Worlds,’ ‘Men in Black,’ and ‘Jurassic Park.’ It is now part of Netflix’s intriguing four-part series, ‘Encounters,’ which delves deep into the mysteries of the Broad Haven Triangle.
