Psychic Paul breathes last

Berlin, Oct. 26: Paul the octopus, who shot to fame during this year’s football World Cup for his flawless record in predicting game results, has died peacefully in his sleep, his German aquarium said Tuesday.

“He appears to have passed away peacefully during the night, of natural causes,” said Sea Life aquarium manager Stefan Porwoll.

“We may may decide to give Paul his own small burial plot within our grounds and erect a modest permanent shrine,” added Porwoll.

Paul beat the odds during the World Cup by correctly forecasting all eight games he was asked to predict, including Spain’s 1-0 win over the Netherlands in the final.

For the prediction, two boxes were lowered into the salty soothsayer’s tank, each containing a mussel and the flags of the two opposing teams.

Watched by a myriad of reporters, Paul would head to one box, wrench open the lid and gobble the tasty morsel, with the box he plumped for being deemed the likely winner.

His astonishing ability made him a global media phenomenon.

Within an hour of his death, more than 150 messages of condolence were posted on Paul’s “official” Facebook page.

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