Fisherman battles octopus that clings to his face off Palawan

Jesser Cervantes was on a wooden dinghy near Puerto Princesa Island in Palawan when he hauled in an octopus that immediately latched onto his face with its eight arms. The creature's powerful suckers sealed around his head, even covering his mouth, making it difficult to breathe. Cervantes attempted to pull the animal off but it held fast, prompting him to grab a piece of bamboo and repeatedly strike the octopus to loosen its hold.

The repeated blows finally caused the octopus to release, allowing Cervantes to throw it back into the ocean. He later said the animal was extremely hard to handle and almost ripped his face. Experts note that octopuses possess highly intelligent, flexible bodies and independent suction cups that can create airtight seals, which explains the difficulty of removing them without careful peeling.