Ratman of Southend
Field Report
The Ratman of Southend is a grim urban legend from Essex, England, centered on the dimly lit underpasses and alleyways of Southend-on-Sea. Witnesses claim to have seen a hunched, ragged figure with sharp claws and glowing eyes, accompanied by an overpowering stench of rot and the sound of frantic skittering. Some tales suggest it is the ghost of a homeless man who died in the cold, cursed to prowl the tunnels forever in a monstrous, rat-like form. While largely treated as a ghost story to scare teenagers daring each other through dark shortcuts, occasional reports of large rodents and eerie shapes keep the myth alive, blending the horror of vermin infestation with the sadness of urban neglect.
Classification
Type:Humanoid Cryptid
Location:England, Essex, Southend-on-Sea
Traits:Rat-faced, human body, patchy fur, scuttling gait, beady eyes.
Threat Assessment
Danger Level: 3.4
First Reported: 1980s
Sightings: 4
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Behavioral Patterns
It scurries along damp alley walls, pausing to sniff discarded food. When lights flash on, it darts under pallets and disappears.
Folklore & Origins
English urban legends claim this sewer dweller is the ghost of a plague victim seeking revenge.
Media Documentation
Covered by minor UK tabloids during urban ghost hunting sprees. Pops up on British paranormal YouTube channels. Never addressed by legitimate zoological sources.
Hoax Analysis
Ratman of Southend has sporadic reports with no confirmed hoaxes but is generally regarded skeptically.