The unanticipated can happen at any moment, and this is what occurred to two Polish fishermen who stumbled upon an enormous catfish that would make them renowned worldwide. The fishermen, Alfons Brzozowski and Marek Zhdanovich were fishing on the Oder River in Poland’s southwest corner when they caught a massive catfish, one of the world’s oldest fish species.
The men were surprised by the enormity of the catfish, which measured more than 3.5 meters in length and weighed approximately 200 kilograms, as they tried to pull it in. However, their astonishment only grew when they uncovered human bones, buttons, and a metal emblem shaped like an eagle from the uniform of SS officers inside the catfish after opening it.
The men quickly alerted the authorities, who investigated the origin of the bones. According to experts, the remains belonged to a man who perished during the occupation of Poland in the early 1940s, estimated to be between 90 and 110 years old. Unfortunately, the condition of the bones and artifacts had been severely damaged by gastric fluid, making it difficult for the experts to determine the cause of death.
The possibility that a catfish might have killed the individual is very real, as certain members of this species can consume a cat or a dog, and larger members of this species are known to attack humans. The veteran hunter and prize-winner of the Yaroslavl region in sport fishing, Roman Yusupov, stated that catfish strike rapidly and drag their prey to the depths, leaving little chance of escape.
The incident with the two Polish fishermen and the monstrous catfish serves as a reminder that we never know what we might discover while exploring the natural world.
Late in the afternoon, they arrived at the beach, where some anglers shared their knowledge of numerous cases of catfish dragging dogs into the water or biting humans. Hunters have also witnessed these predators attacking deer swimming across the river on several occasions.
Furthermore, there are accounts of catfish snatching laundry from individuals as they wash it in river water. Shockingly, Ukrainian news reports have mentioned cannibal catfish flipping over motorboats to find their next victim. One such incident involved a vessel that vanished without a trace, except for a large hole where a massive catfish was trapped, at a depth of 15 meters near Khotritsa island. Upon cutting open the fish, the remains of three Polish tourists who had disappeared with the boat were discovered. This lends support to the theory that a catfish attacked and dragged a German commander to the ocean floor, given the nature of this fearsome predator.
While some individuals have claimed to have seen incidents of catfish attacking and consuming humans, it is important to acknowledge that a catfish must be of considerable size to be capable of ending a person’s life. Similar to a python, a catfish would consume its prey whole and then take the same amount of time to digest it. Nonetheless, there are contrasting views on this matter, as numerous people consider catfish to be scavengers rather than predators, and therefore, instances of them attacking humans are incredibly rare. It is crucial to consider this perspective as many individuals might be influenced solely by hearsay or their fears.
Moreover, unexplained happenings tend to draw people in, leading them to believe in a monster from the depths of the ocean that goes hunting in the evenings. Recently, two Polish fishermen found themselves in such a situation. The catch of a lifetime turned into a shocking discovery of human remains, buttons, and a metal emblem shaped like an eagle from the uniform of SS officers inside a massive catfish. It is unclear how the person discovered inside the fish passed away, leaving unanswered questions of whether he was already dead or was eaten by the catfish.
In conclusion, while catfish are known to be ferocious predators, attacks on humans are still considered to be rare. It is crucial to rely on scientific evidence rather than rumors or sensational stories. Nonetheless, the recent discovery of human remains inside a massive catfish serves as a reminder of the dangers lurking in our waters and the need to exercise caution.