Boffins are baffled by a Waddon couple's claim that their pet goldfish survived for more than seven hours beached on a carpet.

According to John Spurgeon, the "stunt-fish" jumped out of its bowl, flopped along a sideboard, plunged 7ft and still survived for more than seven hours at their Waddon Court Road home.

Experts at the London Aquarium say goldfish usually die within minutes of being out of water.

"It was a miracle," said Judy Spurgeon. "I could not believe it when the tail went up and the gills started to work. I put it back into water and it's fine now."

Fish expert Chris Coode of London Aquarium said the feat was almost impossible. "In freakish circumstances it may last for one hour," he said. "But as far as we can make out, it should just dry out in seven hours."

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