BFRO #25978: Bluff charge by a sasquatch at sunrise on Manatee River, 30 miles south of Tampa
📍 Location
Christian Retreat, Bradenton, FL (Manatee River NW corner near SR 64), Bradenton, FL
Specific Location: NW corner of Christian Retreat property along the Manatee River, near 64 Highway; pipe over the water
Coordinates: 27.52000, -82.60000
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27.5200°, -82.6000°
📝 Description
There is too much to report for this page, so I'm requesting that someone call or meet me to collect all the information. At the time, we didn't report anything because we (I) didn't want people to laugh or make jokes about us. However, I want you to know, that what happened to me is the truth before my God in Heaven as my witness. I've never read before about one of these things attacking someone, this concerns me.[Investigator (DW) Note: Because this original report did not contain information about the event, it was requested that the witness resubmit the report with the details of said event. Here is that report;] In 1983 I came face to face with the scariest creature I�ve ever seen, and it has haunted my thoughts ever since. It happened in late March of 1983 at Christian Retreat in Bradenton, Florida. I lived here as a kid and use to go to the northwest corner of the property to fish. It was always a place for me to go and sit on the corrugated pipe over the water of the Manatee River, and rest and be at peace. So years later when we came there to visit my Uncle I went back to visit the place I had spent many of days. It was on this visit when my life changed. I woke Saturday morning while my parents and uncle were still asleep. I decided to dress and go sit on the pipe over looking the Manatee River as I have done in the past. It was about 6:30 am, I wore my Dad�s Deputy Sheriff coat because it was cold out. After sitting on the pipe for about 20 minutes, I got up and started walking towards my Uncles apartment, which was about 200 yards away through the woods. After getting only 20 yards from the pipe I heard something walking up the river bank to my left making a lot of noise while it walked. I stopped in my tracks looking and listening, when all of the sudden out stepped in front of me this incredibly large creature which was about 30 yards away. While it was walking it was looking around and briefly looked my way. Then all the sudden it realized it had seen something and turned to look again in my direction. It stared a few seconds and then started running towards me. I ran towards the 8 foot barred wire fence behind me, which was about 20 yards away, next to the pipe. I grabbed the top of the fence and climbed over quickly. The barbs tore my pants as I climbed over.As soon as my feet hit the ground the creature was standing face to face with me about 6 feet away with only the fence between us. The creature was at least 7 � feet tall, dark brown hair head to toe, dark eyes, approximately 400 to 500 lbs. and very long arms. We stood there about 3 seconds looking at each other until the creature reached over the fence toward me. That is when I took off running for my life down the fence line, with the creature running along aside of me on the other side of the fence. To this day all I remember is the snorting and grunting sounds it made while running along side of me. As I was running up the dirt road the creature ran into a thicket and could not continue the chase. I continued running towards my Dad�s old workshop on the camp grounds until I was able to jump back over the fence. After crossing the fence I made my way back to my Uncle�s apartment very cautiously watching for the creature. Upon arriving at my Uncle�s apartment I told my parents and uncle what had happen. All of us went over to the pipe where I had encountered the creature. We could not find the creature anywhere. I have never forgotten that day or had been so scared in my life. I really felt like the creature was attacking me for reasons unknown. I didn�t know what I had seen and I didn�t know about Big Foot/Sasquatch until years later. I never told a soul outside my parents and uncle on the day of what I had seen in fear of being laughed at, until I came across the BFRO where others had come forward with their stories. This prompted me to tell mine.
🔍 Circumstances
My mother & father and an uncle will talk about it as well. They were having breakfast.
🌤️ Weather Conditions
About 7:00 am The sun had just broke and visual sighting was clear due to clear skies.
ℹ️ Additional Details
About 7:00 am The sun had just broke and visual sighting was clear due to clear skies.
🔗 Sources (1)
👥 Community Contributions
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Case Information
- Case ID
- cmiyd7n2i00wa8fysp5swje7m
- Primary Source
- BFRO
- Added to Map
- December 9, 2025
- Last Updated
- December 10, 2025