Post by Berry McPaper-cuts on Jun 2, 2023 22:56:18 GMT
A sunbathing seal “living his best life” has become a social media star after being spotted soaking up the warm weather with a smile, 30 miles from the nearest coast.
Sophie Bell originally mistook the animal for a sandbag when she and her young family saw it while on a boat trip lounging beside the Old West River, in Cambridgeshire.
In fact, the creature - whose nickname is Neil the Seal - was doing what many of us were at the weekend and “soaking up some long-awaited sun”.
Ms Bell said: “We were in the final moments of our journey back home to Ely, travelling slowly through the narrowing river, when my husband Marcus said: ‘There’s a seal!’
The family ran to the stern for a better look - keeping hold of their dog, Nelson - but could only make out something that looked like “an old sandbag”.
But after turning the boat around to have a closer look, Ms Bell was able to take some pictures of Neil’s “rather happy-looking, smiley face”.
The 42-year-old communications consultant shared them on the Spotted in Ely Facebook group, where they got more than 1,000 reactions.
“He really does look like he is living his best life,” said the 42-year-old communications consultant.
