The majority of teenagers would hate being sent away from their families and friends, especially if they were to be sent to a Catholic residential school where there were rigid rules that had to be followed.
Australian teenager Keith Sapsford, then 14 years old, experienced a similar situation in 1970. After only a few weeks, he made the decision to flee, demonstrating his determination to escape this predicament, but he made no decision to return home.
Instead, he made the decision to leave Australia entirely. Keith Sapsford left his school and drove himself to the Sydney airport. Keith got to the airport and snuck onto the tarmac where a few planes were waiting.
He managed to escape on one plane that was bound for Tokyo, Japan. He gave in to temptation and entered the open undercarriage of the Japan Air Lines.
What drove him to make this desperate move?
The History of Keith Sapsford
Events that took place months before Keith stepped out onto that tarmac affected his choices and ultimately caused him to climb onto that plane’s wheel well. Keith’s father, Charles Sapsford, had told his son a story about a Spanish boy who had perished as a result of climbing into an airplane’s undercarriage.
Without a pressurized compartment, that boy had been exposed to the high altitude. It ultimately resulted in his death.
Keith’s father had hoped to talk his daring son out of taking such a chance, but it seems to have motivated him to board a plane for Japan. Keith, who was born in 1956, was a curious young man who enjoyed being active.
In fact, his family had just returned from a trip abroad to sate his wanderlust. Unfortunately, he had a tendency to disappear, and even a lengthy international trip could not stop his wanderlust.
But when they got back home, Keith Sapsford started to feel restless. His parents decided that he needed some structure and formalized discipline. Keith was deemed to be best suited for Boys’ Town, a Roman Catholic school situated in Sydney’s southern region.
This facility specialized in working with troubled kids who required structure and a formal system of discipline. Helping him find the best path seemed right in their parents’ eyes.
Keith was only in the institution for two weeks before he was able to escape because the facility misjudged his sense of adventure. Keith may not have even known the plane’s destination when he climbed into the wheel well; it is unclear what made him decide to go to the airport.
It is not surprising that a teenager was able to sneak onto the tarmac because regulations at major airports were simpler than those we deal with today.
Keith decided to take a chance when he saw a Douglas DC-8 getting ready to take off. Unlike that Spanish boy, he believed he would be able to survive because Keith would be in the wheel well. Keith thought he could escape the perils of exposure to high altitude.
Keith Sapsford did not realize, however, that after takeoff, when the plane’s wheels retracted, the wheel-well compartment would reopen. Keith died after falling 200 feet as a result of that.
The evidence, in his father’s opinion, suggested that Keith might have also been mowed down by the wheels as they tried to retract. In either case, a family suffered a tragic loss of life and heartbreak as a result. That heartbreak would last for more than 40 years, until his parents died.
One study by the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority revealed that only one out of every four stowaways on an airplane make it through the flight. On short, low-altitude flights, survivors board as stowaways; however, when an aircraft reaches cruising altitude, there are no surviving stowaways.
Statistics show that over the course of 85 flights, there were 96 attempts to stow away in the wheel-well compartments between 1947 and 2012. 23 of them were still alive. Thus, 73 people lost their lives while trying to obtain a free trip.
Ignoring this information and making an attempt to stow away can end tragically, as Keith Sapsford’s tale demonstrates.
A Photographer Snaps Heartbreaking Fall
John Gilpin, a beginner photographer, just so happened to be at the airport. He was photographing activities at the airport in the hopes that one or two would turn out well. John would eventually capture Keith Sapsford as he plunged to his death, despite the fact that he was unaware of this at the time.
Before the plane took off, Keith had already spent a number of hours in the wheel well. Experts later discovered handprints, footprints, and clothing threads when they examined the plane. To demonstrate that Keith had boarded the aircraft, they required all available proof.
Even more tragically, Keith would have probably frozen or suffocated to death if he hadn’t fallen out of the plane. It was not oxygenated and the compartment reached freezing temperatures.
Keith Sapsford had little insulation against the change in temperature that would happen as the plane rose to its cruising altitude because he was only wearing a short-sleeved shirt and shorts. There wasn’t enough room in their compartment for both him and the retracting wheels, so even they posed a threat.
Surprisingly, John didn’t become aware of what he had photographed until almost a week later. John noticed a print of a boy falling from the plane feet first while developing his photos from the day at the airport. He appeared to be reaching up with his hands in an effort to grab onto something and prevent falling.
The image serves as a chilling reminder of the young boy’s tragic death while making a last-ditch effort to leave his school and see the outside world.
Why the Word ‘Pen’ Comes from the Latin ‘Penna’ Meaning Feather
The humble word “pen” carries a rich history rooted in ancient times, derived from the Latin word penna, meaning “feather.” Long before modern pens revolutionized writing, feather quills—especially from geese—were the essential tools of scribes, scholars, and artists. This article journeys through the origins of the pen, its evolution, and fascinating trivia about the timeless connection between feathers and writing.
Robert Odlum, the first person to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge
The first person to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge was a professional high diver who "wanted to demonstrate that people did not die simply by falling through the air, thus encouraging people to be willing to jump from a burning building into a net." He proved himself correct by safely falling 135 feet through the air and dying only when he hit the water.
How Cleveland's Balloonfest in 1986 Turned Into a Public Tragedy
In Cleveland, Ohio, United Way broke the world record by deflating nearly 1.5 million balloons as part of a publicity stunt to raise money. The balloon obstructed a US Coast Guard search for two boaters who were subsequently discovered to have drowned, blocked airport runways, and blocked land and waterways.
George Dantzig solved two famous “unsolved” problems in statistics mistakenly as assignment
In 1939, George Dantzig arrived late to his statistics class. On the board were two famous “unsolved” problems in statistics written as an example by his professor. Dantzig mistook the examples for homework assignments. He solved the “unsolved” problems and submitted the homework to his professor a few days later. His solutions earned him a doctorate.
Why This Belgian Bar Makes You Trade Your Shoe for a Beer
To prevent tourists from stealing their beer glasses, some bars in Belgium require people to hand over one of their shoes as a deposit which is then put in a basket and hung from the ceiling. These shoe baskets have also become an attraction.
Story of Kathrine Switzer: the first woman to run in Boston Marathon
Before women were allowed to run in the Boston Marathon, Kathrine Switzer participated. A race official attempted to forcefully remove her from the race in 1967, but her boyfriend pushed him down. She was the first female finisher who had a numbered entry in the race.
15 interesting facts about Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II, who ruled Britain for 70 years, has away at the age of 96. She was the country's longest-reigning monarch. Here are some little-known facts about her.
Sylvan Goldman: The Visionary Who Revolutionized Shopping with the Cart
The inventor of shopping carts, Sylvan Goldman, had to hire several male and female models to push carts around in his store, demonstrate their utility, and explain their use to other customers, due to not catching on initially.
The 1976 April Fools' Pranks, Planetary Alignment
On April fool's Day, 1976, the BBC convinced many listeners that a special alignment of the planets would temporarily decrease gravity on Earth. Phone lines were flooded with callers who claimed they felt the effects.
Thomas Baker's heroic act that earned him the "Medal of Honor" was 8 bullets until death
Thomas Baker instructed his team to leave him with a pistol and eight bullets propped up against a tree after he was injured. Later, American troops discovered the now-deceased Baker in the same location, lying next to eight dead Japanese soldiers and carrying an empty pistol.
How did Howard Florey discover penicillin
Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming, but he never attempted to turn it into an antibiotic. It wasn't until ten years later that Howard Florey discovered Fleming's obscure paper and understood the mold's potential. Up to 200 million lives may have been saved as a result of Florey's work.
How Sleep Deprivation Was Once Used as Torture
Sleep deprivation, long before modern interrogation techniques, was considered a “clean” and effective form of torture—leaving no physical scars, yet breaking minds with haunting silence. Victims endured days and nights without rest, leading to vivid hallucinations, disorientation, and psychological torment. This article traces the dark history of sleep deprivation as a weapon, examines the science behind its effects on the brain, and shines a light on the painful balance between human endurance and cruelty in the annals of coercion.
Reason Behind The Suicide Of Christine Chubbuck Live On Air
Actor Rebecca Hall had serious reservations about tackling the macabre story around why Chubbuck killed herself in 1974. So what changed her mind?
Remembering the 1945 Empire State Building Disaster: When a Plane Met Skyscraper
An airplane crashed into the Empire State Building in 1945. Among other damage, plane parts severed the cables of an elevator and the woman inside fell over 70 stories. She lived and holds the world record for the longest survived elevator fall.
Underground Railroad to Mexico freed thousands of slaves in 1829
Slavery was abolished in Mexico in 1829. Slaves were escaping to Mexico, and slaveholders in the US were aware of this. The US attempted to get Mexico to sign a fugitive slave treaty, which would have required Mexico to send back escaped slaves to the US. But, Mexico refused, arguing that slaves were free as soon as they set foot on Mexican soil.
The true story of Josephine Myrtle Corbin, the lady born with four legs and two private parts
Josephine Myrtle Corbin, an American sideshow performer born in 1868, had a rare condition known as dipygus, which caused her to have four legs, each smaller inner leg paired with one of her outer legs. Corbin joined the sideshow circuit, captivating audiences as the "Four-Legged Girl from Texas."
From Flapper to Fashion Week: How 1920s Style Still Shapes Modern Trends
The roaring 1920s revolutionized fashion, introducing bold styles, daring cuts, and a spirit of freedom that still inspires today’s wardrobes. From flapper dresses to statement accessories, here’s how the Jazz Age lives on in modern fashion.
Nathan's Famous Doctor Stunt
When Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs first opened in 1916, the owner hired people to dress as doctors and eat hot dogs outside his shop, to convince people his hot dogs were healthy.
Nicholas Winton ‘British Schindler’: Man who rescued 669 Czech children from Nazis
A man named Nicholas Winton saved 669 kids during WWII and lived almost all his life without letting people know.
The true story Of The Radium Girls that change US labor laws
Hundreds of young women worked in clock factories during World War I, painting watch dials with luminous radium paint. The company lied about the risk of radiation, claiming there was no danger, which resulted in the death of the young women.
Roller Coasters were First Invented to Distract People from sin
Roller coasters were invented to distract Americans from sin. In the 1880s, hosiery businessman LaMarcus Thompson didn’t like that Americans were going to places like saloons and brothels and created the first roller coaster on Coney Island to persuade them to go there instead.
Shizo Kanakuri’s 1912 Olympic Marathon Finished 54 Years
At the 1912 Olympics, a marathon runner quit and went home to Japan without telling officials and was considered a missing person in Sweden for 50 years. In 1966, he was invited to complete the marathon. His time: 54 years, 8 months, 6 days, 5 hours, 32 minutes, and 20.379 seconds.
How Dmitri Mendeleev Developed the periodic table of the elements
1850 Dmitri Mendeleev walked almost a thousand miles to Moscow so he could apply for the University of Moscow. Although he was not accepted, he walked to St. Petersburg where he was accepted, And with that education, he developed the the periodic table of the elements
8 Interesting Facts About The Unsinkable Ship, TITANIC
If you ask your friends what's the most famous ship in history the answer in most cases will be the same, of course the legendary Titanic. Its history is full of mysteries, at first it was a source of hope and national pride as well as proof of the triumphs of mankind but it soon became a source of nostalgia and pain, the extent of which cannot be described in words.
Medieval Medicine: A 1,000-year-old onion and garlic salve kills modern bacterial superbugs
Scientists recreated an Anglo-Saxon manuscript-based 9th century onion and garlic eye remedy and discovered that it killed 90% of antibiotic-resistant staph bacteria (MRSA).
