Are testicle-biting fish headed for BRITAIN? Now relative of piranha is found in Paris' River Seine

The Pacu could come to UK after being discovered in Western Europe

A fisherman in Paris reeled in the frightening-looking fish last week



The Pacu is of Brazilian origin and is related to the fearsome piranha



Sometimes owners of exotic aquariums dumped them in nearby rivers



Chaps, thinking of indulging in one last free swimming session before Autumn is well and truly here?

Well, it's not just the forecasted plunge in temperature that might make it a bad idea - a piranha-like fish known for biting and eating testicles may be on its way to Britain.

The Pacu, known as 'The Nut Cracker' and 'The Ball-Cutter', was recently discovered in the Seine river in Paris.

The nightmarish beast is usually found the Amazon, can grow to up to 90cm and grow to 25kg.

On it's way here? The piranha-like Pacu could soon be in the UK

May want to reconsider: This man was pictured in The Thames yesterday. Experts fear the Pacu could soon be found in UK waterways

Fishermen in South America have reportedly bled to death after losing their testicles to the vicious teeth of the fish, a relative of the piranha.

When Pacu turn up in strange places, it is usually because the owner of an exotic aquarium has dumped one.

It was found in European waters for the first time in August with experts warning men to keep their trunks on if swimming in the Øresund channel between Denmark and Sweden

Now it has migrated to France, there are fears it could be on its way to the UK's lakes and rivers.

But British men fearing for their manhood take heart - the chillier weather will soon ensure that fish like the Pacu could not survive.

A fishing competition on the river some years ago - today, when a Pacu turns up in strange places, it is usually because the owner of an exotic aquarium has dumped one

Fish expert Henrik Carl told the Local earlier in August: 'The Pacu is not normally dangerous to people but it has quite a serious bite. There have been incidents in other countries, such as Papua New Guinea, where some men have had their testicles bitten off.

'They bite because they're hungry, and testicles sit nicely in their mouth.'

A fisherman in Paris called the river police when he reeled in the frightening looking fish, which can weigh as much as 25 kilos, last Friday morning

'He sent us an image of the picture through his smart phone and it turned out to be a Pacu,' said a police spokesman. 'It is a fish with a very dangerous bite!'

The Pacu is technically a vegetarian, but tends to be attracted to male genitalia for unknown reasons.

Pacu grow quickly in captivity and, unlike goldfish, will outgrow aquaria, so owners release them into whatever pond they can find locally

When one was found in Denmark last month, Copenhagen University professor Peter Rask Moller said: 'All we suggested was that swimmers keep their pants on until we know if there are more of these fish out in our brackish waters.'

'Pacu are commonly kept in aquaria because they are fairly docile, but look like piranhas,' Peter Moyle, a fish biologist, told the Los Angeles Times last month.

'They grow quickly in captivity and, unlike goldfish, will outgrow aquaria, so owners release them into whatever pond they can find locally.'



