HEREFORD'S Richard Leonard set a new European record when he hooked a giant 505kg Blue Marlin on the final day of a sunshine holiday in Gran Canaria.
The 21-year-old spent the last day of the holiday, with girlfriend Nikki, boat fishing for tuna - and he was amazed by the whopping catch.
The former Kingstone High School pupil caught the Marlin on an 80lb class line and, with help from six others, spent 50 minutes reeling it in.
Richard has since returned to Germany, where he is an engineer in the army, but he was allowed the keep the nose of the Marlin.
His dad Ian said: "Richard needed the holiday because he had been posted in Iraq for a couple of months - and it certainly had a memorable ending for him."
He added: "Richard has done some fishing before but this was a remarkable feat. I have since contacted fishing magazines and been trying to find out whether he can get any recognition for the catch."
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