Middlesbrough, an otherwise quiet town in central England, recently found itself in the spotlight after the discovery of a giant rat. Meanwhile, in the Czech Republic, an angler caught a 268 cm-long catfish big enough to potentially fit a person inside its belly.

Giant rat found in Central England home

In Normanby, a suburb of Middlesbrough, a family home turned into a scene of concern after a massive rat was discovered indoors. These rodents, often the source of disgust, carry numerous dangerous diseases—making pest control not just a suggestion but a necessity. According to a local Conservative councillor, safety measures had not been properly enforced, leading him to heavily criticise the Labour-led city council. He is demanding an urgent investigation and professional intervention.

Pest control experts measured the rat at nearly 22 inches (56 centimetres) from head to tail, about the size of a full-grown domestic cat. Councillor David Taylor claimed this wasn’t the only sighting in the area, with countless rat holes found across local backyards. Though authorities are still uncertain how the rat got into the home, they suspect there may be a nest hidden indoors.

Local councillor slams city leadership

Taylor blamed the presence of these oversized rats on ongoing illegal dumping in Eston and around Whale Hill, particularly by fast food outlets and local shops. Comments on his social media post described horrifying conditions. One user noted that the authorities had left two rat carcasses to rot on the street, as reported by The Sun.

MailOnline adds that rats can grow this large when an ample food supply is available. According to The Sun, the UK is currently home to an estimated 250 million rats.

Budapest also struggling with rats

As we previously reported, Budapest is also facing serious rodent problems. These animals are known to spread a wide range of infectious diseases such as Lyme disease, typhoid, dysentery, plague, and the hantavirus, which can cause severe respiratory and kidney issues. The danger isn’t limited to bites or scratches—their droppings, urine, and even dried faecal particles in the air pose serious health risks.

Near-record catfish caught in the Czech Republic

Meanwhile, well-known Czech angler Jakub Vágner shared that he had broken his own record by catching a 268 cm-long (8.8 feet) catfish in the Berounka River. According to his account, it took him and a friend nearly an hour to tire the massive fish. By the end, Vágner said he was shaking with a mix of excitement and exhaustion. “Its size wasn’t just about length—its height and thickness were equally astonishing,” wrote the angler, who has more than 226,000 Facebook followers. He said the experience left him feeling like a marathon runner who could hardly believe his eyes.

Last year, Vágner caught a 264 cm-long fish from almost the same location. He noted that the current 268 cm specimen might still grow. The current record belongs to Italian angler Alessandro Biancardi, who pulled a 285 cm (nearly 9.4 feet) catfish from the Po River. That fish was estimated to weigh at least 150 kilograms.

Judging from the photos, even the belly of Vágner’s catfish could probably accommodate a grown person.

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