Man claims to have found the remains of a MERMAID washed up on Norfolk beach
The gruesome images show what look like the remains of a human-like creature with a fish tail lying on the sand
A MAN claims to have found the remains of a mermaid washed up in Great Yarmouth.
Paul Jones posted a series of photographs taken on the Norfolk beach, which have been shared 15,000 times on social media in two days.
He wrote: "Today at Great Yarmouth we found what looks like a dead mermaid washed up on the beach."
The creature has obvious fins and a tail, but a decayed head which looks human.
The torso is rotting and the entrails are visible, but the head and tail are more intact.
Many people who have shared the post are adamant that it is a mermaid, with one referencing Disney's The Little Mermaid by writing "RIP Ariel".
Others have said it is nothing more than a dead seal, as the Norfolk coast has a large colony of grey seals.
However Mr Jones' Facebook profile shows him to be a keen creator of models, with lots of fish-themed pieces of art, which may suggest this is another one of his creations.
There have been many sightings of mermaids over the years but experts believe they were marine creatures suck as manatees, dugongs or sea-cows (now extinct).
The modern view of mermaids has also been influenced by Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale, The Little Mermaid, written in 1836.
In June, the body of the Loch Ness Monster was claimed to have been found washed up on the shore.
A dog walker said he stumbled across the bizarre sight on the banks of Loch Ness, Scotland.
But some have called into question the authenticity of the image saying it is strange the remains still had the internal organs intact. With many pointing out they would have surely away when the flesh did.
Help2Rehome Scotland later poured water on all and any theories saying it was actually set out for a new TV show.
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