The infamous Loch Ness monster could actually be real because one man has said Nessie brushed up against him while swimming.
Duncan Roberts, 39, had the terrifying encounter when he was swimming in the chilly waters of the famous loch.
‘It was something big,’ he revealed.
‘During my swim I experienced a bump half way across.
‘There is some weird energy at play in that water. The depth and the darkness of that water plays tricks with your mind.
‘The water is pitch black and I had my eyes closed a lot of the time as the depth and darkness terrified me so I didn’t see anything.
‘I just felt it, a big thud in the chest.
‘I think anyone who swims in the deep part of the loch is lying if they say they haven’t thought about the monster.
‘I was focused on getting across as quickly as possible so the hit was a shock.
‘I was already nervous enough before the swim.
‘If I knew something was going to bump into me halfway across I would definitely have been having second thoughts.’
The Australian said swimming in the loch was one of the hardest things he has ever done.
‘I live in Australia and surf all the time often with Great White Sharks.I was way more scared of getting in the Loch Ness water,’ Duncan said.
‘It was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done mentally.’
He continued: ‘I flew all the way from Australia so it would’ve been tough to back out.
‘The loch is beautiful but definitely has a vibe about it that makes you freeze at the thought of swimming in it. Not to mention that it is roughly six to 10°C.
‘It also has the sensation of pulling you under a little. I think because it is fresh water and so deep. I was hoping to not have an encounter.
‘The deep dark water alone is scary enough, let alone worrying about what else might lurk below.
‘There were definitely moments of awe and beauty as I caught glimpses of the length of the loch while I took breaths during the swim.
‘But I wanted to get to the other side at Urquhart. Swimming into the castle shores was pretty magical.’
To top it all off he climbed Ben Nevis afterwards and then got a tattoo of Nessie to remember getting touched by the beast.
In April, Scottish researchers asked for Nasa to help them track down Nessie.
The Loch Ness Centre called on the space agency to lend a hand in a renewed hunt for the water’s legendary monster.
It follows one of the biggest searches of Loch Ness on record last year, which captured loud noises being generated under the water, in addition to several apparent sightings.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE : Woman, 30, killed after her leg was ‘bitten off by a shark’
MORE : People warned not to go near capybara that’s escaped in Telford
MORE : Northern Lights set to be visible in the UK tonight – here’s how to see them
Get your need-to-know
latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.