There's something strange and big swimming in the canals of Madeira Beach along the Pinellas County coast. Those who have seen it say it's no fish and think it could be a sea serpent.
Russ Sittlow, 78, has seen it. He calls the creature "Normandy Nessie" because he lives on Normandy Road.
The retired engineer said he first saw "Nessie" in April.
"His head come up out of the water, and then he rolled up in a double roll behind him and he was long, he was huge," he said.
Sittlow said he has seen two of the creatures in the canal, one very large, and the other a bit smaller.
Sittlow set up a surveillance camera to record video if the creatures came back. He said his camera recorded "Nessie" three times since September, the latest Saturday.
The video shows a dark form swimming along the surface of the water. It appears to be about 30 feet long. Another clip shows the creature splashing.
"I don't know what it is," he said.
When a reporter asked if he thought it was really a monster, he hedged.
"No, no, well, call a monster what you will, it's something different, it's something strange, it's something I've never seen in saltwater," he said.
Sittlow's account of what he saw is backed up by neighbor Maria VanAiken, 47, who said she saw the "monster" this summer.
"I looked up and I saw this like huge-looking creature," she said.
State wildlife officials who have seen Sittlow's video think the creature is a manatee.
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