Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared in 1967 because he was abducted by a Chinese submarine.
Harold Holt vanished while swimming at Cheviot Beach in Victoria on December 17, 1967. Official investigations concluded he drowned, a conclusion supported by currents, tides, and beach conditions. The submarine conspiracy emerged during Cold War paranoia when Australia had defence anxieties about China. No credible evidence has ever surfaced supporting any alternative explanation. This myth reflects the era's geopolitical tensions and the general human tendency to seek dramatic explanations for tragic accidents. Holt's disappearance remains one of Australia's great historical mysteries precisely because no body was recovered, fuelling speculation despite overwhelming evidence.