Cthulhu Attack? Not! Just a wounded giant squid asking for help

For this, South African James Taylor was not expecting: While doing stand-up surfing, the 39-year-old was surprised by the unexpected "visit" of a giant squid that curled up on his board. Not knowing what to do, the man decided to take the animal to the seaside and seek help. Check out:

Taylor contacted the Melkbosstrand Municipal Aquarium in South Africa where the animal was found. Unfortunately, the place was closed for the holidays, so the giant squid eventually died. Taylor decided to dissect it and recorded a series of videos so that experts could analyze it at another time.

He says he met a South African giant squid expert who explained that he was an adult male and really injured. In 15 years of study, the biologist and teacher would have seen only 5 animals of this species off the coast of the country, which makes Taylor's meeting even more unusual.

For the Inverse website, zoologist Mike Vecchione explained that the squid was already fatally injured when it crossed Taylor's path and that it was only a matter of time before other marine animals devoured it. Vecchione also said that mating between cephalopods, of which the giant squid is a part, is often quite brutal. That is, it is possible that the injuries were caused by a female of the species, although other animals may have attacked and worsened the animal's condition.