A diver was left grinning from ear to ear after being hugged by an affectionate seal during an underwater encounter at a UK beauty spot.
Michael Thomas received the unexpected cuddle while diving a few feet beneath the sea off Lundy Island in north Devon.
A video capturing the heartwarming moment has since racked up nearly four million views and more than 218,000 likes online.
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“Sometimes all we need is to feel close to something,” Michael told Whats The Jam.
“No shared language.
“No understanding.
“Just a moment that feels like enough.
“The sea, the seals and these calm little interactions genuinely mean a lot to me.
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“Seals are super inquisitive.
“I mainly go to Lundy to dive the kelp forests.
“It feels like another world under there.
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“The funny thing is, as soon as you start properly exploring the sea floor or weaving through the kelp, the seals suddenly want to come and investigate what you’re doing.
“It’s almost like the less attention you give them, the more interested they become in you.”
Viewers were equally enchanted by the adorable interaction.
One person said: “Many wild animals want love they just don’t know it until a human comes along and shows them what’s possible.
“Turns out hugs are really great.”
Another viewer said: “This is so beautiful.
“To see man and animals in harmony with each other.”
While a third person added: “If this happened to me I think it would heal everything in me.”
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