Survivors claimed that a giant octopus had attacked the vessel, grabbing its pontoons. It was as huge as an imported cow. After the attack, the beast submerged rather than injure any survivors. This story sounds a little fishy too me. It seems strange that an octopus would leave the bottom and come up and attack a boat.
Octopi stay near the bottom, and even big ones are timid.
Many divers have swum with the giant octopus off the coast of British Columbia, which can grow to 272 kilograms and have a 9.6 metres arm span, and the octopi always swim away.