British beachgoers were shocked when a big black panther was spotted walking across UK sands.
Visitors to Devon's Exmouth beach witnessed the unusual sight, but it soon became apparent that not all was quite what it seemed earlier this week.
For the dangerous big cat was actually an unusual sculpture made by world-renowned artists Brendan Rawling.
According to Devon Live, the artist's latest creation, a full-sized panther named Resilience, has been “beautifully crafted out of local driftwood”, and has been placed right on the shoreline – and it took 72 hours across four days to make.
He said: “It took an age to burn the black on but I’m thrilled with the look.
“There have been multiple sightings over the UK since the Dangerous Wild Animals Act was introduced in 1976.
“My dad spotted a large black cat on Woodbury common back in the '80s when out for a run, so when I’m out running or walking somewhere remote, it’s always on my mind.
"If they are roaming about the UK, then ‘resilience’ is a perfect word to describe them, having adapted to a foreign climate and continued to survive.
“Perhaps we could take a leaf out of their book in the coming years with our economic climate worsening?”
Sightings of real black panthers in the UK are few and far between, but earlier this year one dad got the shock of his life after his 11-year-old son was reportedly chased by one in the woods.
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Martin Abonyi was on a cycling trip with son Harry at the Black Carr Plantation in Old Cantley when they allegedly spotted the creature.
Mr Abonyi recalled: “My son was riding about 30 yards in front of me. As we rounded a corner I saw out of the corner of my eye a large black animal sprinting out from the cover of the woods heading directly for my son, running diagonally to head him off.
“My first thought was of a large black dog as I wasn’t geared up for expecting anything else.
“The woods are popular with dog walkers, so I quickly looked to my left to see if I could identify the owners of the dog.
Dad and son escape ‘big cat’ as it bolts at boy in scary bike ride encounter
“Obviously my son had no idea so he wasn’t scared at the time, but I was quite alarmed.
"When I got in I did a quick search in google and was really surprised to find out that this area is actually a hotbed for big black cat sightings, with one being spotted less than a mile away form our sighting last year."
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