A rare giant squid stunned beachgoers when it washed ashore in Japan.

Local fishermen noticed the huge marine creature floating on the coast of Ugu in Obama city, Fukui prefecture on April 20 morning.

Authorities measured the mammoth cephalopod and found that it was almost 10ft long and weighed about 70kgs. The squid was still moving and alive when it was first found, but had later weakened and died.

Its body has been delivered to the Echizen Matsushima Aquarium in Sakai city, to be displayed to the public during the country's Golden Week holidays.

Fisherman Kazuyuki Hamakami, 45, said: ‘ I discovered the giant squid while repairing a net. I noticed its bright red color ten metres away from where I was standing.

‘I was excited when I found out that the squid was alive. I called other fishermen, and they all were surprised too.’

Giant squid are elusive as they normally dwell in their natural habitat in the deep sea. Researchers in Japan took the first photos of a live giant squid back in 2004.

Two years later in 2006, scientists from Japan's National Science Museum managed to catch and bring to the surface a 24-foot female giant squid. National Geographic said the largest giant squid to be measured was 59 feet long and weighed almost one ton.