Giant Lego Man Washes Ashore: Did Artist Ego Leonard Leave Toy Figure On Florida's Siesta Key? (VIDEO)

Somewhere out there, an enormous toy castle or spaceship is missing one of its pieces.

Beach goers were baffled Tuesday when a massive castaway Lego man washed ashore on Sarasota's Siesta Key.

"It doesn't make sense," said Jeff Hindman, who found the eight-foot-tall, 100-pound fiberglass figure during his morning walk, according to the Herald Tribune.

Hindman said he initially thought the Lego man was beached marine life, but when he dragged the statue out of the water and stood him up, Hindman discovered the ominous message "NO REAL THAN YOU ARE" across the front of the Lego shirt. The figure's back reads "EGO LEONARD" and has the number eight.

Still, nobody can explain with complete certainty where Lego man comes from.

"I kind of think it's from the UFO people, I really do," one woman told local television station WTSP-10.

Others have pointed the finger at the brand new Legoland theme park in Winter Haven. The park opened on Oct. 15, just a 10 days before Lego man appeared, making the giant publicity figure a possible ploy for some free press.

In a statement to the Sarasota Sheriff's Office, Legoland representatives quickly and humorously denied planting Lego man: "This activity is in no way sponsored or endorsed by The LEGO Group or Merlin Entertainments, who run LEGOLAND attractions. Hope you've given Mr. LEGO Imposter his one phone call and an attorney!"

Lego people actually wash up on beaches more often than you might expect, leading many news outlets to pin the stunt on Dutch artist Ego Leonard. In 2007, a Lego man appeared on the beach in Holland and a similar incident took place in England during 2008.

A translated message on Ego Leonard's website explains the giant toy's travels:

My name is Ego Leonard and according to you I come from the virtual world. A world that for me represents happiness, solidarity, all green and blossoming, with no rules or limitations.

Lately however, my world has been flooded with fortune-hunters and people drunk with power. And many new encounters in the virtual world have triggered my curiosity about your way of life.

Ego Leonard did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Huffington Post, but did send the following message to the Herald Tribune: "I am glad I crossed over. Although it was a hell of a swim. Nice weather here and friendly people. I think I am gonna stay here for a while. A local sheriff escorted me to my new home."

The rightful owner has 90 days to claim the Lego man from Sarasota Police.

Check out footage of another Lego man washing ashore in the Netherlands:

Comments

[Retnan]

07:21 PM on 10/31/2011

Finders keepers. The cops had no call to take it.

[CJ40inWI]

10:29 AM on 10/28/2011

Beware what lurks beneath that smiley face.

[nelandquinten]

08:23 PM on 10/27/2011

you just dont make this stuff up

[MISTERUNCONVENTIONAL]

06:55 PM on 10/27/2011

His fiberglass body insulated him from the electric fence @ Guantanamo but unfortunately the swim did him in.

[MISTERUNCONVENTIONAL]

06:52 PM on 10/27/2011

>What the - - - - - - is "NO REAL THAN YOU ARE" supposed to mean?

It's a line from the Republican debate a couple of nights ago.

[irishlion7]

06:51 PM on 10/27/2011

Just wait the Florida Tea Party will have Lego Man as there write in cadidate for President or he/it will be chosen as a running mate for Cain. I can see the bumper signs now Cain and Lego fo 2012 the pair that no nothing and there for can be easily bought!

[majornutt2]

06:41 PM on 10/27/2011

Yes it was confirmed a lego man, his sex organ was a Lincoln log

[majornutt2]

06:26 PM on 10/27/2011

How do they know its a lego man, was there a penis? do they have round legos?

[colah]

07:15 PM on 10/27/2011

Of course he was immediately arrested & will be deported post haste.

[firstamendment3]

05:55 PM on 10/27/2011

The takeover of planet Earth has begun by the inhabitants of the planet Lego.

[p---]

06:54 PM on 10/27/2011

great, now my 10 year old wants one. thanks, huffpo!

[Dub Mansell]

05:41 PM on 10/27/2011

Here is an update about Lego man from Sarasota Patch http://sar­asota.patc­h.com/arti­cles/quest­ions-remai­n-about-le­go-man-fou­nd-on-sies­ta-key . Looks like he might be connected to an internatio­nal chalk festival being held in Sarasota.

[Dub Mansell]

05:40 PM on 10/27/2011

Here is an update about Lego man from Sarasota Patch http://sarasota.patch.com/articles/questions-remain-about-lego-man-found-on-siesta-key. Looks like he might be connected to an international chalk festival being held in Sarasota.

[davyjones2112]

05:35 PM on 10/27/2011

we must take it to the temple of poseidon !!

[ecurbwl]

06:19 PM on 10/27/2011

Maybe if we wait a few days, Lego Woman will wash ashore too. The two of them jumped off a cruise ship to escape the screaming brats that spit an pummel them.