A FISHERMAN floundered for a weapon to protect himself after coming face-to-face in the dark with what he believed to be a lynx.
Phil Beach was fishing near Laporte Road, in Stallingborough, when he saw a "huge cat" – measuring three foot long and two foot high – picking up fish from the sea wall, and walking towards him from 100 yards away.
The sandy-coloured cat crept towards Phil, 34, of Dunster Walk, Immingham, until it was less than 20 yards away.
"I spotted this huge cat picking up fish but it seemed to be attracted to my head torch and started getting closer," he said.
"It jumped over the Humber wall in one go and I realised it wasn't a domestic cat or a fox – it was too big and had pointy ears.
"There was a big ditch between us and it just jumped right over it like it was nothing.
"I turned and ran to my car to get a beach spike to protect myself, but when I turned round it had gone.
"It must have ran nearly 150 yards in about 10 seconds."
The Grimsby Telegraph reported the sighting, at 9pm on Tuesday, to the British Big Cat Society, who identify big cats seen by members of the public from all over Britain.
Founder Danny Bamping said he believes that the animal was a lynx.
"Judging by the size and the fact it was hunting at night, I think it was probably a lynx, but it could have been a puma," he said.
"Usually they are not dangerous unless approached and threatened.
"They are top of the food chain, so their only real worry is man."
Craig Gledhill, joint owner of Jungle Zoo, in Cleethorpes, said it wouldn't be surprising to find a lynx or similar creature on the loose.
He said: "We have been told stories about wild and exotic animals in the area. I have not heard any stories of wild cats recently.
"The lynx is good at hiding and will probably hunt at night like in this occasion. In the wild, animals will look for any kind of food to eat.
"There are many collectors of wild and exotic animals, some of them not legally.
"It's possible one of these animals could be on the loose, but the owner won't have reported it because it's an illegal pet."
It is not the first time a big cat has been spotted in the area.
In August 2008, a dog-walker spotted a black cat the size of a great dane in Humberston.
Three years previously, in 2005, there were a series of big cat sighting in locations including Holton-le-Clay, Market Rasen and Friskerton Airfield, just outside Lincolnshire.
Mr Bamping added: "We have had a few sightings in North East Lincolnshire over the years and in neighbouring counties – these animals have huge territories."
