Has anyone actually been eaten by a giant squid?

Question

There are lots of claims that people have been eaten by giant squid, including a story that some sailors on the USS Indianapolis were eaten by one after the ship was sunk. However, I have never been able to find any reliable sources to back up any of these stories. So, does anyone know of any reliable sources about people being eaten by giant squid.

Answer 1

Well, no, people have not been eaten by giant squid. This behemoth prefers very, very deep and cold waters where no humans can survive. There are no scuba divers down this deep. We're talking mesopelagic layer, maybe 1,000 meters or even more. Not without a submarine. Though dead ones sometimes wash ashore.

Humboldt squid have been filmed near fishing boats where the squid were in terrible pain and being killed and the photographers needed cages or they would be attacked. The locals called them Red Devils and claimed they were more dangerous than sharks. They even cannibalized each other. However, when filmed far, far away from the carnage the Humboldt squid were peaceful and inquisitive and did not attack photographers who did not need a shark cage and were not in one.

I believe whether it is Humboldt squid or common squid or the giant squid that their behavior will be more similar than different. They probably would not attack human unprovoked with a blood lust, even if they did live closer to the surface than they do.

Answer 2

I very much doubt that this has ever happened. Giant squids do exist, but the idea of "giant" referring to a squid doesn't connote an actually gigantic size. The oohing and aahing over the giant squids that have been seen is over their length attaining nearly 20 feet. Most of this is composed of tentacles, and a giant squid of this size would have a head perhaps a foot in diameter tops. Since the feeding organ of a squid is a parrot like beak in the center of its "face" , this would maybe measure 8" in width and be capable of opening to three or four inches. Conceivably, such an eating mechanism would be capable of ingesting a human, but WHY? We do not represent food to a squid, and so would be in no danger. At worst, the squid might attack if we were somehow to corner it and threaten it, but squids are shy critters who use color change and "ink" to escape from threats.

One thing, though, we don't know how large a giant squid could possibly be, so the argument based on size alone doesn't stand. The other one, dealing with the "motivation" so to speak, still holds true.

Answer 3

There have been no verified human fatalities due to giant squid attack.

This may be because they haven't attacked anyone, or it may be that anyone they attacked got eaten, and their disappearance was attributed to other causes (such as sharks). No way to tell at this point.

Other large squids, such as Humbolt's squids, which are 'only' about six to ten feet long, have attacked people. Few, if any fatalities, but when you're swimming and a big squid grabs hold, pulls you down and starts chomping away, I think I'd be more than a little freaked out.

Most (if not all) Humbolt's squid attacks have been in waters where the squids were being actively fished through jigging, and in waters with numerous agitated and wounded squids, filled with squid blood.

Answer 4

That's interesting

Answer 5

i very much doubt it. squids eat very slowly and to get eaten would have to find some way to get your head in its tiny mouth. plus, they are more afraid of you then you are of them.

besisdes, those are just pirate stories.

Answer 6

I have to say yes, I met him night clubbing, he was all hands and big feet so I nicknamed him 'the squid'.

Answer 7

Thankyou! valuable information and offers me better insight on the topic

Answer 8

Not in my wildest dreams!

Answer 9

none on record

Answer 10

Yes, and it is delicious!