OCTOPUS PAUL DEAD
October 27th, 2010 by | Posted in News Comments Off on OCTOPUS PAUL DEAD
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Pundit Octopus Paul, who had become a sensation after successfully predicting matches at the World Cup, died peacefully in his sleep at the age of two years. Stefan Porwoll, general manager of the Oberhausen Sea Life centre in Germany – where Paul made his predictions – confirmed the news.
Paul the Octopus
“He died last night, a peaceful and natural death,” Porwoll said.
“Management and staff at the Oberhausen Sea Life Center were devastated to discover that oracle octopus Paul, who achieved world-wide recognition during the recent World Cup, had passed away overnight,” the aquarium said in a statement.
“We grew very fond of him,” said Sea Life general manager Stefan Porwoll. “He passed away during the night peacefully,” he said as the marine life centre flew flags at half mast and all employees wore black armbands.
Paul, who was born in January 2008 in Weymouth, correctly predicted the winner of all seven of Germany’s matches at this years World Cup in South Africa. He then correctly chose Spain over the Netherlands before the final.
For the prediction, two boxes were lowered into the salty soothsayer’s tank, each containing a mussel and the flags of the two opposing teams. Watched by a crowd of reporters, Paul would head to one box, wrench open the lid and gobble the tasty morsel, with the box he plumped for being deemed the likely winner.
His predictions always came true, transforming him into a global sensation who attracted big-money transfer offers after the tournament as he was right again in predicting the final of the World Cup.
The Oberhausen Sea Life centre insisted on keeping their star attraction – and are now devastated at the news of his passing. “We all loved him and we will all truly miss him,” added Porwoll.
Within an hour of his death, more than 150 messages of condolence were posted on Paul’s “official” Facebook page.
“Paul, we will never forget you. We love you,” wrote one. “There will never be an octopus as cool as you again,” wrote another.
But the German fans threatened to turn him into sushi after he correctly predicted a semi-final defeat for the Mannschaft against Spain.
And when his prediction for the final match came true, the Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero called for octopus bodyguards and Spanish Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian called for Octopus to be given an “immediate” free transfer to Spain to “ensure his protection.”
But Paul’s fans need not despair too much at his death. The aquarium has already been grooming a successor, to be named Paul like his mentor.
Will his successor be able to predict as accurately as Paul? Or now will the bookies enjoy the World over?
“We may decide to give Paul his own small burial plot within our grounds and erect a modest permanent shrine,” said Porwoll.
Twitter had also been abug with tweets on Octopus Paul since the Tuesday afternoon. One tweeple went to the extent of saying that there was no hospital to care him there.
@mangsha – No hospitals to save Pulpo..Animals die.. @atm0602: Why #pulpopaul is dead? 🙁
Ravi Matah.
