A dad is turning heads because of his uncanny resemblance to Hagrid from Harry Potter.
Aaron Sankey, 32, started growing his hair and beard two years ago the request of his then five-year-old daughter.
It wasn’t until colleagues started asking him to reel off famous Hagrid quotes – like ‘You’re a wizard, Harry’ – he realised he was morphing into the fictional giant.
He embraced the resemblance, and said kids often point and whisper in the street, asking their mum or dad if he’s the real deal.
Not only does dad-of-two Aaron share Hagrid’s long locks, broad frame and bushy locks, he also has a massive dog – just like Fang in the books and movies.
Thick-skinned Aaron said he’s not offended by the comparison, and fiancé, Rachel Simpson, 30, loves his look too.
The fishmonger from Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, said: “I never planned to look like anyone or anything in particular.
“I’m naturally a hairy person so I just let it grow, and this is the outcome.
“I’ve read all the Harry Potter books and seen all the films, and I definitely do notice the resemblance – especially first thing in the morning, or after a blow-dry.
“I do get people whispering and pointing, or even coming up to talk to me about it, but I see the funny side.
“I get a lot of kids talking to their parents quite loudly while pointing over at me.
“Whenever I go to the pub, heads turn – for some reason it seems to happen a lot there.
“I know I’m hairy, so I just see the funny side – it’s hard to crack a joke at me that I don’t see the funny side of myself.”
Aaron, dad to girls Kayla, seven, and Daya, three, has always had fast-growing dark locks and facial hair, but started to grow it out in 2019.
Within a year, he has an impressive beard and thick dark hair, which was when colleagues in his previous workplace, Carphone Warehouse, began to make comments.
He said: “One day I was running late and rushed into work without brushing my hair.
“I must have had about ten people come up to me that day asking ‘Can you call me a wizard?’ and other similar references.
“It took me a few seconds to see what they meant.”
Although Aaron is a fan of the Harry Potter novels and films, he insisted the similarities are a complete coincidence.
But that doesn’t stop strangers who see him out in public identifying the likeness in a less-than-subtle way – from whispers to pointing fingers.
The dad says the only thing letting him down is height – at 5ft 11in, he doesn’t quite tower over friends in the same way as his 8ft 6in fictional doppelganger.
But he says he does share with Hagrid a love of enormous pets – and has a huge four-legged sidekick.
His Saint Bernard and German shepherd cross Bronson weighs more than 60kg and dwarfs both Aaron’s daughters.
And he says his family like his style – although he admits neither of his daughters have seen Harry Potter.
Aaron said: “Already, whenever any person with a beard comes on TV, they’re pointing at me saying ‘Daddy that’s you!’
“They won’t believe it when they see Hagrid.”
Aaron said fiancé Rachel was initially “not a fan”, but now loves his Hagrid-like appearance and says she never wants him to cut off his locks.
“I get trims every so often to neaten it up,” he said. “But that’s as far as I’ll go.”
He added: “As long as I’m not losing hair, I’ll continue growing it.”
