Footage has been doing the rounds this week of a surfer encountering a giant squid in the water at Melkbosstrand.
In March, surfer James Taylor spotted what he thought was a large piece of kelp between the breakers – but there was something different about it. Upon closer inspection, the object revealed itself to be a large squid, seemingly injured and taking a pounding in the shorebreak.
The surfer did the honourable thing and attempted to bring it to shore for help – but not without suffering a laceration on his leg from a razor-sharp sucker on one of the squid’s tentacles.
The squid, its identity later confirmed as a true Giant Squid, was motionless by the time it was hauled onto the beach despite James’ best efforts to keep it alive.
Click for the full story and a first-hand account from the surfer.