Sometimes in life, we stumble upon something truly unexpected that completely changes our perception of reality. That’s exactly what happened to two fishermen from Poland when they managed to catch a giant catfish – one of the oldest on the planet. Little did they know that there was a shocking surprise waiting for them inside the fish that would stun the world.
Alfons Brzozowski and Marek Zhdanovich were just fishing on the Oder River, which flows in the south-west of Poland, not even suspecting that they would soon become famous all over the world. The men were already amazed when they realized that they had caught not just a catfish, but a huge catfish!
Its length was more than 3.5 meters, and its weight reached almost 200 kg. But soon after they opened the catfish, they found fragments of human bones in it, as well as buttons and a metal badge in the form of an eagle from the uniform of SS officers.
The Poles immediately contacted the police, after which an investigation began: it was necessary to establish the origin of the remains. Experts suggested that the man found in the fish died in the early 40s of the last century during the occupation of Poland. The approximate age of the fish was also established – from 90 to 110 years.
However, the cause of the officer’s death still remained a mystery. The experts could not determine whether he was already dead or whether he was killed by the catfish. Patek Loiko, a scientist, explained the situation: «We have only fragments of bones on our hands, most of the skeleton has not been found. In addition, both bones and artifacts were damaged by gastric juice. There is not enough data to establish the exact cause of death.»
But the possibility that a catfish killed the officer was very real. Zoologists have claimed that some individuals of this species can eat a cat or a dog, and the largest ones often attack a person. Roman Yusupov, a former hunter and prize-winner of the Yaroslavl region in sport fishing, says that catfish pounce rapidly, and then drag the victim to the depth.
They approach the shore in the late afternoon. Some fishermen claim that they know many stories about how a catfish dragged a dog into the water or bit a person. And the huntsmen claim that they have repeatedly seen how these predators attacked deer swimming across the river. People also share stories about how catfish snatch laundry from people’s hands while rinsing it in river water. 
In the Ukrainian press, you can even find information about cannibal catfish who turned over motorboats trying to get a victim. They say that in the area of the island of Khotritsa, at a depth of 15 meters, a ship with a large hole in which a huge catfish was stuck was once found missing without a trace. And then the remains of three tourists from Poland, who disappeared with the ship, were found in the fish.
This shocking discovery has made people question whether catfish are actually scavengers or hunters. Some believe that they only attack when they are hungry, while others claim that they are territorial and will attack anything that enters their territory. Regardless of the truth, the discovery of the two Polish fishermen has certainly added a new dimension to the folklore surrounding these powerful predators.
What do you think of this incredible story? Share your thoughts in the comments below and don’t forget to share this unbelievable discovery with your friends and family.
