Ghost Or Guardian Angel? Mysterious Figure Photographed As Vicar Prayed Over 'Dying' Man
Ghost Or Guardian Angel? Mysterious Figure Photographed As Vicar Prayed Over 'Dying' Man
South West News Service
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Believing his grandfather had just days to live, Chris Leadbetter took this photograph of him as a vicar prayed at his hospital bedside.
Bob Large, 76, had been told an ongoing illness was terminal and was being paid last visits by his family at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Cheshire.
But Leadbetter was left shocked later that day when he noticed a ghostly figure in the background of the photograph, over his grandfather's shoulder.
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Chris Leadbetter took this photograph of his ill grandfather Bob Large as a vicar prayed at his side
He said: "When I saw it the hairs just stood up on me. I was so freaked out. I saw the picture late at night so I went and woke the rest of my family up straight away. Everyone in the family was shocked. They couldn't believe it."
But when the 20-year-old showed the image to hospital staff members, they were unperturbed, replying: “Oh her. Lots of patients see her at the end of their beds,” with some describing the apparition as the “long-haired blonde girl in a white gown.”
What's more, Leadbetter was left incredulous when his sick grandfather defied the expectations of all his doctors and suddenly made a miraculous recovery.
He said: "My granddad is still alive now and has actually been released from hospital, despite what the doctors said.
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Large believes the figure in the photograph behind him is his guardian angel
"He finds the picture quite comforting. He thinks that someone is looking over him."
Large said: "The picture is of my guardian angel. I've been in that hospital, on the same ward so many times.
"The vicar always comes in and says prayers and then goes and I always feel much better. Every time I feel like there is a presence in the room. I've just got a feeling that whoever it is, is watching over me.
“This is the first time I've actually seen her but I've had the feeling she's been there a while.
"It's the strangest thing. I can't explain it. I'll be lying there feeling very ill. Then I'll get the feeling of the presence. Then I'll suddenly feel much better and I can sit up.
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Since the image was taken, Large (pictured here with his grandson Chris Leadbetter) has recovered and left hospital
"The face looks very familiar to me, but I don't think it's anyone I know. I think I just recognise the presence.
"Gosh, how he caught it on camera I don't know. I can't understand it. It's amazing. "She'll continue to watch over me - I'm sure of it."
Leadbetter said: "I took the picture the day before I went on holiday because we were told to expect the worst.
"I didn't notice anything until about a week ago when I needed to go through my phone and delete some pictures.
"The strange thing is there is nothing between my granddad, who is sat on the corner of the bed, and the women in the picture - no glass, or windows or anything.
"A few people suggested it looked like a reflection but there is literally nothing for it to reflect off. "
He added: "My gran told the ward manager she needed to speak to him about something and the second she said she had a picture of a ghost he described it perfectly.
"He says it'd not the first time the ghost had been seen. One patient was screaming in the night because it was at the end of her bed."
Staff at the 1829 hospital building, which was formerly known as the County Lunatic Asylum, Cheshire, have reported a number of poltergeist and ghost-related incidences, including sightings of a mysterious “woman in black”.
According to legend, she appeared on the wards ahead of a patient’s death back in the 1800s.
The asylum accepted pauper patients from workhouses and poor houses as well as those from the criminal justice system.
A number of patients died whilst staying in the building, which included padded cells, and some staff have suggested their ghosts are still stalking the building.
Vintage Pictures Of 'Ghosts'
(01 of17)
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A photograph of a group gathered at a seance, taken by William Hope (1863-1933). The information accompanying the spirit album states that the table is levitating - in reality the image of a ghostly arm has been superimposed over the table-stand through double exposure. Hope's spirit album photographs use multiple exposure techniques to render the appearance of ghostly apparitions. Hope founded the spiritualist society known as the Crewe Circle and his work was popular after World War One when many bereaved people were desperate to find evidence of loved ones living beyond the grave. Although his deception was publicly exposed by a private investigator in 1922, he continued to practice. (Photo by SSPL/Getty Images)
(02 of17)
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A portrait photograph possibly taken by William Hope (1863-1933). A young woman's face appears as if floating above the sitters, draped in a cloak. Hope may have already held her photograph in his studio, or he may have asked the couple to supply photographs of deceased relatives under the pretence of using the image to contact the spirit world. Hope's spirit album photographs use multiple exposure techniques to render the appearance of ghostly apparitions. Hope founded the spiritualist society known as the Crewe Circle and his work was popular after World War One when many bereaved people were desperate to find evidence of loved ones living beyond the grave. Although his deception was publicly exposed in 1922, he continued to practice. (Photo by SSPL/Getty Images)
(03 of17)
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A photograph by William Hope (1863-1933). A woman's face appears above the couple - identified at the time as the sister of a man prominent in the Spiritualist Church. Her cloak adds to the ethereal effect. The signature in the upper left hand corner is by one of the sitters, to authenticate the plate. The couple are the parents of the person who compiled the spirit album. Hope's spirit album photographs use multiple exposure techniques to render the appearance of ghostly apparitions. Hope founded the spiritualist society known as the Crewe Circle and his work was popular after World War One when many bereaved people were desperate to find evidence of loved ones living beyond the grave. Although his deception was publicly exposed by a private investigator in 1922, he continued to practice. (Photo by SSPL/Getty Images)
(04 of17)
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A photograph of a man, taken by William Hope (1863-1933). A woman's face appears in a 'misty' cloud to the right of the man - identified as that of his deceased first wife. Hope may have already held her photograph in his studio, or he may have asked the man to supply her photograph under the pretence of using the image to contact the spirit world. The signature in the upper left hand corner is the sitter's, authenticating the plate. Hope used multiple exposure techniques to render the appearance of ghostly apparitions. He founded the spiritualist society known as the Crewe Circle and his work was popular after World War One when many bereaved people were desperate to find evidence of loved ones living beyond the grave. (Photo by SSPL/Getty Images)
(05 of17)
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A photograph of Will Thomas, taken by William Hope (1863-1933). A man's face appears in a haze of drapery on the right of the photograph. Thomas, a medium from Wales, did not recognise the superimposed image. Thomas has signed the bottom of the photograph, 'Sincerely Yours Will Thomas' - perhaps this indicates a friendship with Hope. Hope's spirit album photographs use double and even triple exposure techniques to render the appearance of ghostly apparitions around the sitter. Hope founded the spiritualist society known as the Crewe Circle and his work was popular after World War One when many bereaved people were desperate to find evidence of loved ones living beyond the grave. Although his deception was publicly exposed in 1922, he continued to practice. (Photo by SSPL/Getty Images)
(06 of17)
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A photograph of Mrs Bentley, once the President of the British Spiritualists Lyceum Union, taken by Wylie. A superimposed image - that of Mrs Bentley's deceased sister's face - appears at the lower right of the photograph. (Photo by SSPL/Getty Images)
(07 of17)
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A strange visage appears on a piece of cloth next to the head of medium Marthe Beraud (aka Eva C) during a seance, circa 1910. Picture taken from 'Les Phenomenes dits de Materialisation' by Juliette Bisson. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
(08 of17)
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A couple are terrified by a spectral apparition, circa 1880. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
(09 of17)
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1865: A ghostly figure appears to a couple eating their dinner in a country cottage. London Stereoscopic Company Comic Series - 225 (Photo by London Stereoscopic Company/Getty Images)
(10 of17)
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circa 1865: The ghost of a woman appears to a girl at prayer by her bedside. London Stereoscopic Company Comic Series - 183 (Photo by London Stereoscopic Company/Getty Images)
(11 of17)
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circa 1865: A man clinging to a tree in the face of an apparition in a forest. London Stereoscopic Company Comic Series - 72 (Photo by London Stereoscopic Company/Getty Images)
(12 of17)
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circa 1865: An apparition appearing to two country folk in their kitchen. London Stereoscopic Company Comic Series - 10 (Photo by London Stereoscopic Company/Getty Images)
(13 of17)
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circa 1865: An apparition causes havoc by menacing two people in their kitchen. London Stereoscopic Company Comic Series - 13 (Photo by London Stereoscopic Company/Getty Images)
(14 of17)
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circa 1865: A frightened man praying on his knees to an apparition. London Stereoscopic Company Comic Series - 17 (Photo by London Stereoscopic Company/Getty Images)
(15 of17)
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circa 1865: A ghost floating slowly towards a dishevelled man hiding in a corner. London Stereoscopic Company Comic Series - 169 (Photo by London Stereoscopic Company/Getty Images)
(16 of17)
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CIRCA 1865: A ghost attacks a man with a sword. Early double-exposure by G. Maerkl. Vienna. Carte-de-visite Photographie. Arond 1865 (Photo by Imagno/Getty Images)
(17 of17)
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If viewed from certain angles, glass on its own can act as a mirror. In the past this was used to create 'ghosts' on stage. The ghost was actually an actor under the stage. An angled plane of glass reflected light from the ghost towards the audience, who would see the ghost but not the glass. (Photo by SSPL/Getty Images)