Florida fishermen find hand in canal, but it didn't belong to a human

MATLACHA, Fla. - When Lee County deputies were alerted by fishermen about a potential body part found in a Matlacha, Florida, canal, they immediately arrived in the area to investigate.

It turns out, it was a hand – but it didn't belong to a human.

After several failed attempts to reach the hand seen resting on the canal bottom, a deputy was able to use a mini barge to reach it. 

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Once recovered, deputies learned it was a mannequin hand. 

(Photos via Lee County Sheriff's Office)

The Lee County Sheriff's Office posted photos of the recovery of the hand on Facebook, which led to multiple comments:

• "High five well four...give them a hand for all their effort!"
• "But where is the rest of the mannequin?"
• "I'd have thought it was real too!"
• "Gotta hand it to them, they get the job done."

The sheriff's office said its deputies always go the extra mile to ensure all calls are "handled seriously" and that they are always "ready for every matter at hand."