Golfers stunned to find giant crab on bag - before it snaps a club in half

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By stefan armitage

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A group of golfers was left in awe after finding a giant crab clinging to their clubs in what was supposed to be a quiet few holes.

In case you needed any more proof that things really are bigger and scarier Down Under, the incident occurred on Australia's Christmas Island.

In the video, local business owner Paul Buhner and his friends say they turned away from the golf bag for a brief moment, only to turn back and see the shelled beast clutching the clubs.

The crab in question is a coconut crab - which is also known by locals as a robber crab or a palm thief. According to Auralia's official national parks website, these nicknames come from the fact that the coconut crab has a tendency to carry off "any foreign items it comes across" - but has a particular fondness for food and shiny items.

Check out the incredible moment below:

"Now that's what we call a robber crab," Paul says in his video, before asking the crab: "Hello, buddy! What're you stealing? What're you stealing?"

Paul then insists: "We have not put [the crab] here. This has climbed up here while we've been putting out."

The Aussie then jokes that one of them could lose a finger to the clawed behemoth.

The video then shows one of Paul's friends attempting to carefully remove the crab from his clubs - giving viewers a truly frightening perspective of just how large these creatures are.

But the crab won the tussle, and with Paul laughing behind the camera, he reveals that the crab had actually snapped the club in half, using his claw "like a chainsaw".

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Credit: Mauritius Images GmbH / Alamy

These exceptional climbers can actually grow to be a meter across and weigh around 4kg (8.8lbs). Not only that, but they can also live for up to 50 years.

I can safely say I would not have reacted as cool and calm as these guys! I'd probably let the crab just take my clubs... and the keys to my car.

Featured image credit: Blue Planet Archive / Alamy