Known for being the 17th Prime Minister of Australia, Holt vanished without a trace on December 17, 1967, while swimming at Cheviot Beach, Victoria, sparking one of the largest search efforts in the country’s history.
With his body unable to be found, many conspiracy theories surfaced in the aftermath of the event. Among the most outlandish was the idea of Holt being a spy from China, who had his body seized by a submarine of the Asian nation.
Tony Eggleton, a political consultant and friend of Holt’s, said that he tried to confront him about the dangers of his hobby, but that the Prime Minister dismissed him, saying, "Look Tony, what are the odds of a prime minister being drowned or taken by a shark?"
Holt’s passing has been attributed to drowning, and he was later commemorated with the Harold Holt Memorial Swimming Centre.
With his body unable to be found, many conspiracy theories surfaced in the aftermath of the event. Among the most outlandish was the idea of Holt being a spy from China, who had his body seized by a submarine of the Asian nation.
Tony Eggleton, a political consultant and friend of Holt’s, said that he tried to confront him about the dangers of his hobby, but that the Prime Minister dismissed him, saying, "Look Tony, what are the odds of a prime minister being drowned or taken by a shark?"
Holt’s passing has been attributed to drowning, and he was later commemorated with the Harold Holt Memorial Swimming Centre.