The cloud surfer as snapped from a pane window by Nick O'Donaghue

No one appears to know what it is… but it has two arms, two legs, a head and body and even casts a shadow.

The mysterious figure was apparently snapped through the window of a plane as it flew to Gatwick from Austria after being spotted by shocked passengers.

Nick O'Donoghue, 30, says he was flying back from a work ski trip in Austria when he saw the strange figure at about 30,000 feet.

He said: "I was on the window seat with two work colleges.

"They were talking like crazy and I was gazing out the window.

"I could see this figure in the distance in front of us and then as we flew closer this shape appeared."