Fisherman dies chasing fish that stole his pole Wed Aug 17,10:41 AM ET



BERLIN (Reuters) - A fish caught in an east German lake near the Polish
border not only got off the hook but also lured a 46-year-old fisherman
to his death, police in the eastern town of Eisenhuettenstadt said
Tuesday.

A police spokeswoman said the fish pulled the fishing rod out of the
man's hands and dragged it about 100 metres away from shore at the
Kleinen Pohlitzer lake near Eisenhuettenstadt. The man took off his
clothes and swam after the pole.

An eyewitness said the man reached the rod floating on the surface but
then suddenly stopped moving. The witness, 54, swam out to help him and
pulled the fisherman back to shore, where he was later pronounced dead,
police said.

"I know it sounds like an incredible story but it really happened," an
Eisenhuettenstadt police spokeswoman said. "It was apparently just an
ordinary fish."