Giant Spider Crabs Invade British Beaches, Cause Panic
Thousands of giant spider crabs have overrun Britain's beaches. Authorities attempt to calm panicked residents: "They are just crabs."
A bizarre phenomenon on the beaches of Cornwall, UK, has caused panic among swimmers who reported feeling "something prickling me" and "something moving between my feet."
In fact, Cornwall authorities have warned tourists about this terrifying phenomenon, which has been increasingly reported, involving large, venomous spider crabs that have taken over the shallow waters in their thousands.
"They shed their shells, making the water look like it's full of thousands of giant black stones," explains Kate Lowe, a local marine photographer familiar with the phenomenon. "I've encountered it before, but I've never seen so many shells. Thousands of crabs just steps from the shore, it's really scary. You can't swim safely in the sea," she adds.
According to Lowe, "People screamed in terror when they saw what was happening in the water. The coast guard may try to calm things down, but you can't stay calm when you see something like this," she says.
A coast guard spokesperson noted, "The crabs shed their shells and then return to where they came from, 100 meters below the sea. They can't survive in the cold water; they need warmer waters this time of year," they try to reassure.
