Loch Ness Monster ‘pictured’ by schoolboy, nine, in EIGHTH sighting this year – but can you spot where it is?
THE LOCH Ness Monster has been "caught on camera" by a nine-year-old holidaymaker - in the EIGHTH sighting this year.
Monster-loving Sam Knight snapped what he believes is Nessie's fin breaking the surface of Loch Ness during a cruise with mum Jo in early November.
The stunning image shows a dark triangle poking out of the water - and experts credited it as the eighth official sighting this after extensively debating whether it was a was a wave or an animal.
Sam took the picture on November 2nd as part of an extensive Nessie hunt during a family holiday, and even hatched a plan to tie the beast to the boat and take a DNA sample.
Mum Dr Jo Knight, a genetics expert at Lancaster University, said: "Sam is very excited. I actually spotted the it when I downloaded the pictures to my computer, and he was really happy when it was added to the official site.
"He loves mythical creatures and is also obsessed with the Tasmanian Tiger. We went to Loch Ness in the half term largely for his benefit, it's a bit cheaper than flying to Australia!"
She added that contrary to popular belief, inquisitive Sam believes the beast is a giant eel or sturgeon rather than a long-necked dinosaur.
Nessie records keeper Gary Campbell said 2107 had been a “vintage” year for sightings, but stressed that the majority of claimed sightings do not get included on the register - as most can be explained.
"Anything that is later proved to a hoax or can be subsequently explained is removed from the register," said the 51-year-old, chartered accountant from Inverness.
Mr Campbell's obsession began in in 1996, when he saw something resembling a "mini whale" - with a black shiny back - at the south end of the Loch.
"I have spent the last 21 years trying to explain it," admitted Mr Campbell. "Like most sightings I only saw it for a few seconds. When I went to record it, I found there was no register, so I started one, the following May."
Since then, Mr Campbell has logged over 1080 sightings.
Mrs Stewart saw the large fin shape for five minutes when the creature gatecrashed their honeymoon.
She said: "My opinion is it looks more like a shark shape, but I can't think of any shark that big that could survive in cold fresh water. There is access to the sea but it's a long way away."
Husband Paul added: "it had to be something big and very much alive!"
The most famous picture of the monster, the 1934 Surgeon’s Photograph, was later exposed as a hoax.
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