Beach-goers were shocked by the appearance of a bloodsucking sea creature, comparable in size to a child, washing ashore in the UK, drawing parallels to the giant sandworms from “Dune”.
As a photo of the parasitic entity went viral on Facebook with viewers attempting to discern its identity, according to Will Miles, 26, who encountered the unsettling sight while walking along a beach in Devon after work.
He described it as reminiscent of an oversized leech with a sucker filled with sharp, inward-pointing teeth, measuring approximately 31 inches long, about the size of a two-year-old child.
The creature identified as an Atlantic ocean native is capable of reaching nearly four feet in length, which feeds by attaching to its prey with a tooth-covered disc and consuming blood and bodily tissue using a toothed rasping tongue akin to the inner jaw of a space parasite from “Alien,”.
Attacks on humans are rare but potentially cause painful bites and the risk of infection if untreated, as reported by the Weather Network.
