Has Loch Ness Monster been spotted? Mother-daughter claim sparks frenzy among Nessie groupies

Loch Ness monster is often described as large, long-necked, and with one or more humps protruding from the water

UPDATED MAR 3, 2023

CLEVEDON, UK: A mother and daughter claim to have seen a "creature" in the Bristol Channel that strongly resembles the legendary Loch Ness monster. Many people rushed to take pictures of the "sea monster," which was supposedly "several feet long" and was observed floating about in the water.

Anna Purse was taking her six-year-old daughter Grace on a stroll along the coast on Sunday, February 26, when she noticed a weird object in the water, according to Somerset Live. Others who saw the animal also shared images and comments on social media, with some noting that it was obviously "lost" and far from home in Scotland.

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'Shape reminded me of Nessie'

Purse said, "Myself and my six year-old daughter Grace were walking along the seafront on Sunday and were sitting on one of the benches before the pier. The shape was right next to the pier and I noticed it moving. It moved all the way along the sea in front of us whilst we were sat there. My daughter Grace said it looked like a sea monster. Just the shape of it reminded me of Nessie."

While it hasn't been proved that "Nessie" prefers the Bristol Channel, other animals have in the past visited the estuary, including porpoises, the occasional dolphin, and seals. A few locals made fun of a controversial new road project on the Clevedon coast in light of the sighting. One local suggested it was trying to park on the now infamous "wiggly lines" painted along the beach while another said, "Nessie getting a swim in before the council starts charging to swim in the sea."

The Loch Ness monster belongs to Scottish folklore

The Loch Ness monster is a creature in Scottish folklore that is said to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is often described as large, long-necked, and with one or more humps protruding from the water. Popular interest and belief in the creature have varied since it was brought to worldwide attention in 1933. Evidence of its existence is anecdotal, with a number of disputed photographs and sonar readings. The scientific community explains alleged sightings of the Loch Ness Monster as hoaxes, wishful thinking, and the misidentification of mundane objects.