Philippines fisherman battles octopus that latched onto his face

A fisherman named Jesser Cervantes experienced a dangerous encounter with an octopus near Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Philippines. On July 10, while fishing from a small wooden boat, Cervantes pulled the creature from the water, at which point the octopus suddenly latched onto his face.

The animal wrapped its tentacles around his head and used its suction cups to grip his skin, eventually covering his mouth and creating a risk of asphyxiation. After unsuccessful attempts to remove the creature by hand, Cervantes used a piece of bamboo to strike the octopus, eventually forcing it to release its hold.

Following the struggle, Cervantes released the animal back into the sea. He later noted the difficulty of handling the creature, stating it nearly tore his face.