A Malaysian fireman widely reported to have wed his pet snake says that he is saddened by the story he says is fake.
Abu Zarin Hussin trains other firefighters in the state of Pahang on how to catch and handle snakes.
Earlier this month, UK tabloids reported that he had married a snake believing it to be his "reincarnated girlfriend".
Mr Hussin told the BBC he was "very disappointed" by the reports, which used pictures from his Facebook page.
"I'm always working with snakes and training other firemen in handling and rescuing snakes," he said.
He is married, and said his wife was "okay" with the stories because she knows they are "fake news".
Mr Hussin started working with snakes in 2007
The story was reported by the Daily Mirror on 10 November, and the Daily Mail website picked it up a day later.
Mirror Online's report said he had "spotted a snake with a 'striking resemblance'" to a girlfriend who had died.
"He now spends his life with the 10ft long cobra believing it is his dead lover - following the Buddhist idea that people can be reincarnated as animals," the paper reported.
Mr Hussin, 31, is a Muslim.
"The pictures are of me. They used my photos and started making up stories, saying that I married a snake," he told Malaysia's Star Newspaper
Nick York of the Exclusivepix agency, which sold the story to Mirror Online, said the information was provided by a "British journalist in Thailand" who works with Thai media outlets which first published the story.
"The story was checked according to the journalist and if the information is incorrect we can only report what the journalist believed the story to be after doing his own checks," he said.
Mr Hussin says he currently has four snakes in his possession and keeps them with him to understand their behaviour.
Latest Stories
-
FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Sundowns, Esperance join Al Ahly and Wydad as CAF representatives
1 hour -
CAFCL: Al Ahly set up historic final with ES Tunis
1 hour -
We didn’t sneak out 10 BVDs; they were auctioned as obsolete equipment – EC
5 hours -
King Charles to resume public duties after progress in cancer treatment
6 hours -
Arda Guler scores on first start in La Liga as Madrid beat Real Sociedad
6 hours -
Fatawu Issahaku’s Leicester City secures Premier League promotion after Leeds defeat
6 hours -
Anticipation builds as Junior Speller hosts nationwide auditions
7 hours -
Etse Sikanku: The driver’s mate conundrum
7 hours -
IMF Deputy Chief worried large chunk of Eurobonds is used to service debt
7 hours -
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II celebrates 25 years of peaceful rule on golden stool
8 hours -
We have enough funds to pay accruing benefits; we’ve never missed pension payments since 1991 – SSNIT
8 hours -
Let’s embrace shared vision and propel National Banking College – First Deputy Governor
9 hours -
Liverpool agree compensation deal with Feyenoord for Slot
9 hours -
Ejisu by-election: There’s no evidence of NPP engaging in vote-buying – Ahiagbah
9 hours -
Ejisu by-election: Independent ex-NPP MP’s campaign team warns party against dubious tactics
9 hours