The man who posted himself to Australia
Maybe you know the film Wrong Side Up about a man who sent himself in a box as a surprise for his girlfriend. But have you ever heard about Australian athlete Reg Spiers who actually managed to get from England to Australia in a wooden box the 1960s?
Spiers went to the UK from Australia because he wanted for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics there. But when it became clear that he would not qualify for the Olympic Games, Spiers to get enough money to fly back to Australia. He therefore decided to take a job at the airport to the cash for the ticket.
His plans changed when he lost his wallet with all his savings. Suddenly he didn’t have money for a plane ticket home. He was so anxious to get back to Australia, that he decided to post himself home in a wooden box. He convinced his friend John McSorley to build a box in he would get home and to pay for the transport.
Spiers didn’t pack things in the box, just a little food, a torch and a blanket and his friend helped him to hide inside. He survived a 24-hour delay at the airport in London and even managed to get out of the box the plane was in the air between London and Paris.
Once the plane finally in Perth, Australia, the plane door opened and Spiers heard the accent of Australian baggage handlers. He knew immediately he was home. He was really excited that he had made it, he still needed to get out of the box and the airport without being found. Fortunately, the box to a storehouse where there was no security so he could escape easily.
But back in England, John McSorley was very worried his friend. He decided to find out what had happened with Spiers and informed the media. But Spiers was back with his family and simply forgot to McSorley that he had managed his journey safely.
More than fifty years ago, Spiers’s journey became a sensation than anything else. Especially when he said how easy it was. ‘I just got in the box and sat there. Simple as that.’
Nothing like that again since then. All cargo loaded on to planes is now screened and a hiding person would be found.