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Giant Jellyfish As Big As Diver Spotted Off UK Coast

Giant Jellyfish As Big As Diver Spotted Off UK Coast

The whopping barrel jellyfish was the same size as the diver's body

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A diver had an encounter with a giant jellyfish the same size as herself off the coast of Cornwall.

Lizzie Daly was diving near Falmouth on Saturday when she had a run-in with a barrel jellyfish.

She says it's the biggest jellyfish she's ever seen - as big as her whole body.

Lizzie, a TV presenter and conservationist, was diving for the Wild Ocean Week campaign, which helps funds for the Marine Conservation Society.

The barrel jellyfish is the largest species found in British waters and can weigh a whopping 35kg (5.5st) with a diameter of up to 90cm.

The sea creatures have been spotted washing up on the shores of Cornwall recently, with one wildlife enthusiast telling Cornwall Live he has seen more barrel jellyfish in the last three days than in the last 15 years combined.

He also said that the jellyfish he has seen lately are a lot bigger than ones spotted previously.

It seems to be a good time for gigantic sea creatures around the UK, because just yesterday it was reported that a 133kg (21st) porbeagle shark was caught off the coast of Portland, Dorset.

The porbeagel is a relative of the much feared Great White Shark, which have also reportedly been seen off the coast of Britain.

Forty-one-year-old Adam Carter caught the 2.4 metre (8ft) shark after battling with it for an hour and 45 minutes.

Plasterer Adam said: "It took almost two hours to reel her in. She started off quite tame but I don't think she realised what was going on.

"Then after 10 minutes she started to play hard and we struggled to hold it. For an hour and 45 minutes she was spinning the boat with runs over 200 metres."

A giant 8ft shark was caught off the coast of Dorset last week.
BNPS

Talking about the increase of the fish in UK waters, he added: "Shark fishing is the best I have known it in terms of the number and sheer size of them.

"Now they are not being commercially fished for, we are seeing more and more of them off Dorset."

Meanwhile, his pal, who was on the same trip, managed to catch an 88kg (14st) beast.

Featured Image Credit: BBC

Topics: uk news, Animals