Prompt Cast
Mystery of the disembodied feet washing ashore in British Columbia
TLDR British Columbia has been experiencing a mysterious phenomenon of disembodied feet washing ashore, sparking media attention and various theories. Factors such as rapid decomposition in the Salish Sea, the protective nature of athletic shoes, and natural disarticulation from decomposing bodies contribute to the feet floating to the surface and washing ashore.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Feet have been washing ashore in British Columbia, and it's become a mystery.
04:18
Two feet have washed ashore in British Columbia within six days of each other, sparking media attention and coinciding with the trial of a notorious pig farmer who was on trial for multiple murders.
08:32
British Columbia has a higher than normal rate of missing persons compared to other parts of the world, with over 2,400 people missing over a 59 year period, which is almost five times the number of unsolved missing persons cases compared to Kentucky.
12:50
Between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia, in the Salish Sea, several feet have been found, leading to theories about why so many feet are washing ashore.
17:03
Between August 2007 and February 2016, a total of 17 disembodied feet have been found within a 150 mile stretch between Tacoma, Washington and British Columbia, with the police initially ruling out murder as the cause of the feet washing ashore.
21:09
When a body sinks underwater, it usually sinks quickly, and factors such as water temperature, depth, and what the person is wearing can affect how fast they sink; eventually, the body will bloat and rise to the surface due to gases trapped inside.
25:44
A study conducted by criminologists at Simon Frazier University found that pig carcasses submerged in the Salish Sea, where disembodied feet have been washing ashore, were reduced to bones in just a few days, suggesting that the highly oxygenated and life-rich environment of the sea may be responsible for the rapid decomposition.
29:59
Feet naturally disarticulate from decomposing bodies submerged underwater, and the fact that most of the feet found were wearing athletic shoes suggests that these shoes protect the feet from decomposition and allow them to float to the surface, eventually washing ashore.
34:07
Feet washing up on the shore is more common than people realize, and Vancouver seems to have a higher incidence of disarticulated feet showing up in its area.
38:14
Feet washing up on the shore is more common than people realize, and Vancouver seems to have a higher incidence of disarticulated feet showing up in its area.
Categories:
Society & Culture
