In a bizarre story out of Zimbabwe, the mysterious drowning death of two young boys is being blamed on a mermaid attack!

According to media reports, the strange incident occurred as the children were herding cattle near a dam and spotted the mermaid in the water.

Thinking it was a fish, the boys attempted to catch it, but unfortunately they turned out to be the prey as the creature snatched them and dragged them underwater.

Initially, it appears, the mermaid was only toying with the children and resurfaced with them while the kids were still alive.

However by that time, their parents had arrived on the scene and inadvertently made the situation more dire when they began crying at their children's misfortune.

Seeing their show of emotion, the enrage mermaid allegedly grabbed the boys once again and pulled them beneath the surface of the water where they met their tragic end.

The creature's decision to kill the children is suspected of being because of the tears of their parents, believe it or not, since local legend states that it is unwise to cry in front of a mermaid, lest one wish to die.

While the incredibly strange story might seem like pure fiction, it is being taken seriously by authorities, who have launched in investigation into the drowning deaths and say that the dam has been the site of similar mermaid deaths in the past.

Indeed, Zimbabwe has been home to a surprising number of odd mermaid stories over the last few years, suggesting that fear of the legendary creature has taken hold of some residents or perhaps there truly is something nefarious lurking in the waterways waiting to attack.