Swedish fisherman reels in elk carcass

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- A Swedish fisherman said he reeled in a 500-pound to 600-pound elk while fishing with a friend in the country's Lillsjon Lake.

Joel Lagekvist said his first thought Sunday when the outline began to surface was that the behemoth might still be alive, The Local reported Monday.

"My first thought was, 'What the hell do I do if it starts to run at me?'" Lagekvist said.

The fisherman said he rushed to shore and phoned police, but he had a difficult time getting anyone to believe his fish tale.

"I told a few people what had happened, but no one believed me," he said.

However, by Sunday evening a crowd had gathered to yank the giant corpse out of the water. Police said it is believed to have died after being gored in the groin by another elk.

Lagekvist said he and his friend each took home an antler as a souvenir of their catch.