On this day 44 years ago, the incumbent prime minister of Australia was officially presumed to be dead, in extraordinary circumstances. Harold Holt disappeared around noon on Sunday 17th December 1967, while swimming at one of his favourite swimming locations, Cheviot Beach, near Portsea in Victoria. No body has ever been found, and there have been numerous conspiracy theories about what may have happened to him.
Cheviot Beach often had dangerous currents, and the most likely explanation of his disappearance seems to be that Holt drowned, notwithstanding the fact that he was a strong swimmer. An extensive search was conducted using helicopters, police, navy divers, army personnel and local volunteers, but no evidence of Holt was found. It has been suggested that an injured shoulder may have reduced his swimming ability, and he may have suffered a heart attack.
One theory is that he faked his own death to run away with a mistress. Other theories suggest that he was kidnapped by a Chinese submarine, or abducted by a UFO. Another suggestion is that he might have committed suicide because he was suffering from depression. The police compiled a detailed report into the disappearance, with statements from all known eyewitnesses. When an inquest was ultimately held, the Coroner’s finding was drowning in accidental circumstances.