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| Smiley seal spotted in Ely becomes social media hit | Smiley seal spotted in Ely becomes social media hit |
| (25 days later) | |
| Sophie Bell said if she had not glanced over at the seal, she "would've thought he was a sandbag" | Sophie Bell said if she had not glanced over at the seal, she "would've thought he was a sandbag" |
| A "happy little seal" that has been basking in the sun on the banks of an inland river has become a hit on social media. | A "happy little seal" that has been basking in the sun on the banks of an inland river has become a hit on social media. |
| Photos of the seal in Ely, nicknamed Neil, were posted after local rumours about it started to circulate. | Photos of the seal in Ely, nicknamed Neil, were posted after local rumours about it started to circulate. |
| Sophie Bell, who snapped the pictures, said seals are "not common" in the area but gave the visit a seal of approval. | Sophie Bell, who snapped the pictures, said seals are "not common" in the area but gave the visit a seal of approval. |
| "We all were quite envious of him really just having a good time in the sun," she said. | "We all were quite envious of him really just having a good time in the sun," she said. |
| Ms Bell and her family hired a boat on 29 May to go along the River Cam to Cambridge. | Ms Bell and her family hired a boat on 29 May to go along the River Cam to Cambridge. |
| She said the boatyard team told them there was an "elusive seal" that had been seen in the area, more than 30 miles (48km) from the nearest coast. | She said the boatyard team told them there was an "elusive seal" that had been seen in the area, more than 30 miles (48km) from the nearest coast. |
| Rumours had been circulating in Ely about the seal being in the local area | Rumours had been circulating in Ely about the seal being in the local area |
| As the family returned down the narrow old west river "really slowly" the seal was spotted, the 42-year-old told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. | As the family returned down the narrow old west river "really slowly" the seal was spotted, the 42-year-old told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. |
| Her husband saw it first and turned the boat around so they could get a better look. | Her husband saw it first and turned the boat around so they could get a better look. |
| "It's a good job we did because I would've thought he was an old sandbag had we been going too fast," she said. | "It's a good job we did because I would've thought he was an old sandbag had we been going too fast," she said. |
| Ms Bell said her children were "thrilled" to see the seal | Ms Bell said her children were "thrilled" to see the seal |
| A Facebook post about the seal has attracted more than 100 comments and shares | A Facebook post about the seal has attracted more than 100 comments and shares |
| The "happy little chap" looked like he was "living his best life", she said. | The "happy little chap" looked like he was "living his best life", she said. |
| The photos of the smiley seal were posted to Spotted in Ely, external on Facebook, where it has received more than 1,400 likes and loves responses. | The photos of the smiley seal were posted to Spotted in Ely, external on Facebook, where it has received more than 1,400 likes and loves responses. |
| "I thought Spotted in Ely might really like to see this because there's always been rumours that seals come by this way but [we've] not had many people report seeing one, so we thought we'd share, and it's had quite a reaction, so that's lovely," Ms Bell said. | "I thought Spotted in Ely might really like to see this because there's always been rumours that seals come by this way but [we've] not had many people report seeing one, so we thought we'd share, and it's had quite a reaction, so that's lovely," Ms Bell said. |
| Follow East of England news on Facebook, external, Instagram, external and Twitter, external. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk, external or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830 | Follow East of England news on Facebook, external, Instagram, external and Twitter, external. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk, external or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830 |