‘I put two and two together’: Meet the man who believes he has solved a seven-decade Australian mystery

Prof Derek Abbott spent years trying to find out the identity of ‘Somerton Man’, whose body washed up on a beach in 1948. Maroosha Muzaffar spoke with him about his quest

Professor Derek Abbott in Adelaide (EPA)

As the washing machines at the laundromat spun, Derek Abbott picked up a magazine to while away his time. It was some time in 1995.

Flipping through the pages, Professor Abbott – who taught at the University of Adelaide’s school of electrical and electronic engineering – found an article on “Somerton Man”, a mysterious man whose identity was in question and whose body had washed up on Somerton beach in Australia in 1948.

“Interesting,” he thought. And some time later he folded his laundry and went home.