The Strange Case of the Missing Canoeist

[a_unique_person]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/back-from-the-dead--now-shes-missing/2007/12/04/1196530622048.html



The wife of a British canoeist who had been missing presumed dead for five years sold her house and moved overseas only a month before he suddenly, and inexplicably, walked into a London police station on Saturday.
John Darwin had disappeared during a canoe trip near his home in England's north-east in March 2002.
A search was launched when Mr Darwin, then 51, failed to turn up for work that night, and the remains of his canoe washed up weeks later.
But England was amazed when at 5.30pm on Saturday he walked into a central London police station and said: "I think I am a missing person."
Now police are trying to establish where Mr Darwin has been for the last five years, and what happened to him during his ill-fated canoe trip in 2002.
Adding to the difficulties faced by investigators is Mr Darwin's complete lack of memory, regarding both what happened to him five years ago and also where he has been for the last five years.
"The guy cannot remember anything about what has happened or why he came forward," Inspector Helen Eustace told English press on Monday.
"He has no memory at all. He has obviously been somewhere for the last five years and a lot of questions need answering."



Aliens? Raelians?

[geni]

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=100322

[chillzero]

Well, the other thread is discussing insurance scams, if this one discusses alternative theories - such as aliens as mentioned in the OP, I am happy to leave it un-merged.
:)

[Jimcalagon]

Could be a 'fugue state' episode of amnesia...?

[Ocelot]

He can't remember why he came forward? That's so bizarre. Project MK-ULTRA?

[Sasha]

Not many details - did he just wake-up walking down the street? He had to have come in from somewhere, I wonder if they're trying to backtrack?

[Mister Earl]

Amnesia is more prevalent then alien abduction, I am sure.

[Professor Yaffle]

Amnesia is more prevalent then alien abduction, I am sure.

According to wikipedia, dissociative fugue affects approximately 0.2% of the population (prevalence is increased during war/disaster etc). What percentage people claim to have been abducted by aliens?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugue_state

[sophia8]

As a child, I once suffered total amnesia - some kid (much larger than me) had grabbed me round the neck and started battering my head against a wall. I really couldn't remember my own name, or where I lived; I was standing up the street from my house, but I couldn't recognise anything. However, I soon recovered; it was just shock and concussion.
True long-term amnesia results from brain damage and the lost memories can never be recovered. But there are psychological states where the conscious mind refuses to recall certain uncomfortable memories. This is what most "amnesiacs" are suffering from.

[Magic 9-Ball]

But there are psychological states where the conscious mind refuses to recall certain uncomfortable memories.


Although not total proof, I can attest to this. When I was young (8), I was in a tornado. For years I had very little memory of what happened. I assumed I was unconcious for over a day.

However, I saw the movie "Twister", and the visuals and the sound (Dolby surround sound!) must have unrepressed the memories. I started to remember specific details of the events (very specific details, unrelated to the movie, mind you). I remembered I was doing my math homework, even the problems I was working on, what my family members were doing, and such. It was detail I was stunned to remember.

I had quite a reaction at the time. Let's say it was quite an event at the movies. ;)

This was over 30 years later. Was it actual events? I cannot prove it. However, it was so striking, and so detailed, that I believe it to be true.

[BenBurch]

I would say this fellow needs to have a full diagnostic work-up. Brain imagery would possibly be most revealing.

[Dave_46]

As a child, I once suffered total amnesia <snip>

I had a blank Saturday earlier this year. I remember telling Mrs Dave, at about 1:30pm that I needed some contact lens solution. The next thing I remember was staring, open mouthed, at a bottle of said solution at about 10:30pm. I had no idea where the stuff had come from. Mrs Dave told me that we had been out shopping, and sure enough, the bill was on my credit card statement, but I had, and still have, no recollection of that afternoon and evening.

Now, what was I doing last Saturday evening.

Dave

ps I have seen the Doc, and unfortunately, if it was caused by what the consultant told me was not uncommon, I can't remember (Physical exertion and/or strong emotion).

[letsthink]

Although not total proof, I can attest to this. When I was young (8), I was in a tornado. For years I had very little memory of what happened. I assumed I was unconcious for over a day.

However, I saw the movie "Twister", and the visuals and the sound (Dolby surround sound!) must have unrepressed the memories. I started to remember specific details of the events (very specific details, unrelated to the movie, mind you). I remembered I was doing my math homework, even the problems I was working on, what my family members were doing, and such. It was detail I was stunned to remember.

I had quite a reaction at the time. Let's say it was quite an event at the movies. ;)

This was over 30 years later. Was it actual events? I cannot prove it. However, it was so striking, and so detailed, that I believe it to be true.

Dorothy!

Unfortunately, because of the malleability of memory, you will never know if what you remembered is accurate or not.

[Worm]

He's now been arrested (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tees/7128196.stm).

[nathan]

FWIW, I woke up one morning not knowing who I am or where I was (no, this is not an 'I was sooo drunk' story). I remember thinking, 'wow this is interesting, I wonder if I'll remember'. Then I probably dozed off and woke up later, perfectly fine.

Another weird wake up experience I had was waking up thinking I was dead. Again, my reaction was 'hmm, I appear to be dead, this is interesting, I wonder what'll happen next' :)

[Professor Yaffle]

FWIW, I woke up one morning not knowing who I am or where I was (no, this is not an 'I was sooo drunk' story). I remember thinking, 'wow this is interesting, I wonder if I'll remember'. Then I probably dozed off and woke up later, perfectly fine.

Another weird wake up experience I had was waking up thinking I was dead. Again, my reaction was 'hmm, I appear to be dead, this is interesting, I wonder what'll happen next' :)

Maybe you just dreamed that you woke up and couldn't remember who or where you were...

:confused:

[nathan]

Maybe you just dreamed that you woke up and couldn't remember who or where you were...

that's certainly a possibility. I have a memory of waking up (becoming aware I was in bed with my head on a pillow), not knowing who or where I was, looking at the clock (I knew I was in bed, just not where in the world the room I was in was) and wondering what would happen next. It did not feel like a memory of a dream, but by its very description, I was certainly in a confused state of mind.

[Magic 9-Ball]

Unfortunately, because of the malleability of memory, you will never know if what you remembered is accurate or not.


True. But I'd bet some parts are, as I remembered things about the homework and the house (we only lived there for just over 2 weeks) that were lost to the ravages of time.

Nontheless, it's a great story for parties, and for people to buy me drinks. :D