Loch Ness monster hunter has not given up monster search
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A NESSIE expert has not called time on his monster hunting days despite reports to the contrary.
Steve Feltham (52), who gave up his home, job and girlfriend to move nearer Loch Ness more than 20 years ago, had been widely reported as claiming that Nessie could actually be a catfish but he said many took that to mean he was throwing in the towel.
He said: "I haven’t quit at all. I’ve dedicated 24 years of my life to this and I merely suggested that Nessie could be a catfish. I haven’t given up hope of uncovering the mystery and the search is very much still on,"
He added: "Looking at all the evidence, speaking to eyewitnesses, the most likely solution is a Wels catfish."
The fish can grow up to four metres (13ft) long and weigh over 400kg (880lb).
Bookies William Hill had pushed the odds out to 250/1 from 100/1 that "Nessie" is discovered this year following reports that Steve’s Nessie hunting days were over.
But now the bookies have done an about turn and now won’t be cutting the odds after Steve’s renewed commitment.
Jon Ivan-Duke, William Hill spokesman, said: "We thought Steve had thrown in the towel but he phoned us up and says he will carry on with even more determination. If Nessie is in the Loch, then she must be the greatest player of ‘Hide and Seek’ the world has ever known."
Every year William Hill gives out a cash prize to the best Loch Ness Monster sighting – this year’s competition was won by Bjarne SJ strand from Stockholm, Sweden, who bagged £2000 after capturing a mysterious image in Loch Ness on Google Earth.
Gary Campbell, president of the Official Loch Ness Monster Fanclub, said: "It could be a variant of catfish. Catfish live underwater which isn’t what people have been reporting seeing in Loch Ness.
"We keep a register of sightings and there’s already been three sightings this year.
"People are still seeing something in Loch Ness. Are 1,070 people wrong?
"If catfish were introduced by the Victorians and they mature at 30, they would have to have been introduced in 1905 but there’s a history of people seeing a kelpie before 1905 from 565 AD so the catfish theory doesn’t explain that.
"There are also sightings in Loch Lochy - Lizzie - and Morag in Loch Morag. Did the Victorians go around all these lochs introducing catfish?
"Maybe it is a catfish but we don’t know and until someone catches it we won’t know.
"I don’t think the tourism industry has anything to worry about."
