Somerton Man (identified)
The Somerton Man, found dead on an Australian beach in 1948, was identified in 2022 through DNA analysis as Carl Webb, an electrical engineer from Melbourne.
The Somerton Man was found dead on Somerton Park beach in Adelaide, South Australia on December 1, 1948. His identity remained one of the world's greatest mysteries for over 70 years.
In 2022, Professor Derek Abbott of the University of Adelaide announced that DNA analysis had identified the man as Carl 'Charles' Webb, born in 1905 in Melbourne, Victoria. Webb was an electrical engineer who had been married.
The identification was achieved through genealogical DNA research using hair samples taken from the man's death mask. Webb's DNA matched descendants of his family.
While Webb's identity was finally established, the cause and manner of his death remain debated—whether it was suicide, poisoning, or natural causes has never been definitively determined.
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