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The earliest recorded story about the Loch Ness Monster is from the 7th century AD, in the Life of St. Columba by Adomnán. According to Adomnán, writing about a century after the events described, Irish monk Saint Columba was staying in the land of the Picts with his companions when he encountered local residents burying a man by the River Ness. They explained that the man was swimming in the river when he was attacked by a "water beast" that mauled him and dragged him underwater despite their attempts to rescue him by boat. Columba sent a follower, Luigne moccu Min, to swim across the river. Luigne swam to the spot where the man was attacked and invoked the name of God. The creature surfaced and then disappeared. The man was pulled to safety and survived.
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| A realistic photo of the Loch Ness Monster swimming in the water. |
This story is the earliest recorded account of a creature in Loch Ness. It is important to note that Adomnán was writing about a century after the events described, and it is possible that the story has been exaggerated or distorted over time. However, the story does provide some evidence that the Loch Ness Monster has been a part of local folklore for centuries.
