1
00:00:06,039 --> 00:00:10,209
Narrator:
THERE ARE GLOBAL PHENOMENA
THAT SCIENCE CANNOT EXPLAIN --
2
00:00:10,209 --> 00:00:14,379
TRUE STORIES THAT DEFY
RATIONAL EXPLANATION.
3
00:00:14,380 --> 00:00:17,249
IN THE HEAVILY TRAFFICKED SKIES
OF MEXICO CITY,
4
00:00:17,249 --> 00:00:21,354
A PILOT ENCOUNTERS A TRIO
OF UNIDENTIFIED CRAFTS.
5
00:00:22,388 --> 00:00:25,625
FIRST, THEY TAKE CONTROL
OF HIS PLANE
6
00:00:25,625 --> 00:00:27,926
THEN RAM IT HEAD-ON.
7
00:00:27,926 --> 00:00:31,029
CAN HE WARN THOSE ON THE GROUND
OF IMPENDING DANGER,
8
00:00:31,030 --> 00:00:33,766
OR WILL HE CRASH TRYING?
9
00:00:33,766 --> 00:00:35,068
DE LOS SANTOS:
Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!
10
00:00:36,736 --> 00:00:38,571
Narrator:
IN THE UNITED STATES,
11
00:00:38,571 --> 00:00:41,341
A MAN MYSTERIOUSLY BURNS
TO A CINDER...
12
00:00:41,341 --> 00:00:44,143
THIS FIRE ORIGINATED
AND STOPPED AT THE BODY.
13
00:00:44,143 --> 00:00:48,314
...WHILE OTHERS SUDDENLY FIND
THEMSELVES ENGULFED IN FLAME.
14
00:00:48,314 --> 00:00:51,117
THE DOCTOR SAID THIS BURNED
FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
15
00:00:51,117 --> 00:00:52,985
Narrator:
A SERIES OF CARELESS MISHAPS?
16
00:00:52,985 --> 00:00:55,855
OR IS THERE A CULPRIT
DEEP WITHIN THE HUMAN BODY,
17
00:00:55,855 --> 00:00:58,992
A TICKING TIME BOMB
READY TO EXPLODE?
18
00:00:58,992 --> 00:01:02,128
IF YOU LET A SPARK OFF, IT CAN
ALMOST EXPLODE IN YOUR FACE.
19
00:01:02,128 --> 00:01:04,930
I HAVE NO DOUBT
THAT IN THE FUTURE
20
00:01:04,930 --> 00:01:07,133
THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN.
21
00:01:09,335 --> 00:01:12,672
Narrator: NEW INVESTIGATIONS
QUESTION UNEXPLAINED HAPPENINGS
22
00:01:12,672 --> 00:01:14,073
AND OTHERWORLDLY EVENTS.
23
00:01:14,073 --> 00:01:16,408
Woman:
WHAT IS TH-- OH, MAN!
24
00:01:16,409 --> 00:01:18,311
IT'S HOVERING!
IT'S NOT AN AIRCRAFT!
25
00:01:18,311 --> 00:01:20,980
Narrator: FIRSTHAND TESTIMONY
AND FRESH EVIDENCE
26
00:01:20,980 --> 00:01:22,548
BUILD NEW POSSIBILITIES.
27
00:01:22,548 --> 00:01:24,450
Man: NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN MY LIFE.
28
00:01:24,450 --> 00:01:26,252
AND IT JUST DISAPPEARED
INTO THIN AIR.
29
00:01:26,252 --> 00:01:28,253
IT WASN'T
FROM THIS PLANET.
30
00:01:28,254 --> 00:01:30,223
MY ARMS WERE JUST ON FIRE.
31
00:01:30,223 --> 00:01:33,459
Narrator: RETHINK
EVERYTHING YOU THINK YOU KNOW.
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00:01:33,459 --> 00:01:36,462
-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com
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CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
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MEXICO CITY.
35
00:01:45,938 --> 00:01:48,641
ALMOST 9 MILLION PEOPLE
CALL THIS PLACE HOME,
36
00:01:48,641 --> 00:01:50,042
AND EVERY DAY,
37
00:01:50,042 --> 00:01:53,479
MORE THAN 100,000 PLANES
TAKE OFF AND LAND.
38
00:01:53,479 --> 00:01:57,283
BUT FEW FLIGHTS HAVE BEEN AS
UNFORGETTABLE AND AS MYSTERIOUS
39
00:01:57,283 --> 00:02:00,820
AS THAT OF PILOT
CARLOS DE LOS SANTOS.
40
00:02:00,820 --> 00:02:04,190
HIS DRAMATIC ENCOUNTER
HAS BAFFLED AVIATION EXPERTS
41
00:02:04,190 --> 00:02:05,991
FOR OVER A QUARTER-CENTURY.
42
00:02:05,991 --> 00:02:09,627
WHAT DID CARLOS SEE THAT DAY
THAT ALMOST CAUSED HIM TO CRASH?
43
00:02:09,627 --> 00:02:11,563
DID A TRIO OF ALIEN CRAFTS
44
00:02:11,563 --> 00:02:15,268
TAKE CONTROL OF HIS PLANE
FOR 18 TERRIFYING MINUTES?
45
00:02:28,414 --> 00:02:31,049
IT'S A...
46
00:02:31,050 --> 00:02:33,887
VERY SPECIAL EXPERIENCE
FOR ME.
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00:02:33,887 --> 00:02:36,256
Man: YES, I'M SURE.
I'M SURE IT IS.
48
00:02:37,757 --> 00:02:40,726
MAY 3, 1975.
49
00:02:40,726 --> 00:02:42,461
PILOT CARLOS DE LOS SANTOS
50
00:02:42,461 --> 00:02:44,530
HAS JUST FLOWN
A GROUP OF ENGINEERS
51
00:02:44,530 --> 00:02:48,234
TO A TINY CITY
ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST.
52
00:02:50,469 --> 00:02:53,405
BEFORE TAKING OFF
ON HIS RETURN FLIGHT BACK,
53
00:02:53,405 --> 00:02:56,074
HE SAFETY-CHECKS
HIS PIPER COMANCHE PLANE.
54
00:02:56,074 --> 00:02:58,745
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
55
00:03:10,056 --> 00:03:13,927
THE FIRST 40 MILES UNFOLD
WITHOUT INCIDENT.
56
00:03:19,531 --> 00:03:22,735
Interpreter: THE WEATHER
CONDITIONS WERE VERY GOOD.
57
00:03:22,735 --> 00:03:25,238
THE PLANE
WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION.
58
00:03:27,406 --> 00:03:30,109
Narrator: BUT AS CARLOS CRUISES
OVER THE CLOUDS,
59
00:03:30,109 --> 00:03:33,212
AN UNEASY FEELING ENVELOPS HIM.
60
00:03:33,212 --> 00:03:34,747
IS HE BEING WATCHED?
61
00:03:39,185 --> 00:03:41,020
Interpreter:
EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL,
62
00:03:41,020 --> 00:03:44,224
BUT I FELT I WAS BEING OBSERVED,
SO I TURNED.
63
00:03:45,891 --> 00:03:49,028
I DISCOVERED
THAT ON THE TOP OF THE WING,
64
00:03:49,028 --> 00:03:50,997
THERE WAS AN OBJECT
HEADING TOWARDS ME.
65
00:03:56,102 --> 00:03:59,705
I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, "DEAR LORD,
WHAT IS THIS I'M SEEING?
66
00:03:59,705 --> 00:04:01,140
IT'S RIGHT THERE."
67
00:04:04,276 --> 00:04:07,614
IN A MATTER
OF THREE TO FOUR SECONDS,
68
00:04:07,614 --> 00:04:10,716
I EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME
FEELING I HAD ON THE LEFT SIDE
69
00:04:10,716 --> 00:04:12,785
NOW ON MY RIGHT SIDE.
70
00:04:12,785 --> 00:04:15,154
IT WAS A SECOND OBJECT.
71
00:04:17,389 --> 00:04:19,158
NOW I'M GETTING REALLY NERVOUS.
72
00:04:22,395 --> 00:04:25,631
Narrator: ACCORDING TO CARLOS,
TWO GRAY OBJECTS,
73
00:04:25,631 --> 00:04:28,167
EACH ABOUT 13 FEET IN DIAMETER
74
00:04:28,167 --> 00:04:30,202
WITH A SMALL COCKPIT
OR WINDSHIELD,
75
00:04:30,202 --> 00:04:31,637
ARE FLANKING HIS AIRCRAFT.
76
00:04:31,637 --> 00:04:33,005
Interpreter:
"WHAT ON EARTH IS THIS?"
77
00:04:33,005 --> 00:04:35,241
Narrator:
FOUR SECONDS LATER,
78
00:04:35,241 --> 00:04:38,010
A THIRD OBJECT APPEARS
IN FRONT OF THE PLANE,
79
00:04:38,011 --> 00:04:40,446
HEADING STRAIGHT FOR CARLOS.
80
00:04:42,181 --> 00:04:44,282
Interpreter:
NOW I'M REALLY SCARED
81
00:04:44,283 --> 00:04:46,686
THAT IT WAS GOING TO HIT
THE AIRPLANE.
82
00:04:46,686 --> 00:04:48,221
I ATTEMPTED TO DODGE IT
83
00:04:48,221 --> 00:04:51,857
BY PUSHING THE CONTROL WHEEL
FORWARD.
84
00:04:51,857 --> 00:04:54,660
Narrator: BUT THE CONTROL WHEEL
WON'T ENGAGE.
85
00:04:54,660 --> 00:04:55,995
CARLOS IS TERRIFIED.
86
00:04:55,995 --> 00:04:59,565
WHO OR WHAT
IS OVERRIDING HIS PLANE?
87
00:04:59,565 --> 00:05:02,802
AT THAT MOMENT, I HAD LOST
ALL CONTROL OVER THE AIRCRAFT.
88
00:05:05,505 --> 00:05:08,174
THE THIRD OBJECT MANAGED
TO AVOID THE PROPELLER
89
00:05:08,174 --> 00:05:12,378
AND DISAPPEARED
BENEATH THE COCKPIT.
90
00:05:12,378 --> 00:05:15,881
I HEARD A TERRIFYING BLOW.
91
00:05:15,881 --> 00:05:19,518
Narrator: THE OBJECT SEEMS TO
HIT THE UNDERSIDE OF HIS PLANE,
92
00:05:19,518 --> 00:05:21,921
BUT CARLOS IS UNABLE
TO CHECK FOR DAMAGE.
93
00:05:24,556 --> 00:05:27,659
THE AIRCRAFT IS NOW
COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL.
94
00:05:29,461 --> 00:05:33,333
Interpreter:
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON.
95
00:05:33,333 --> 00:05:36,502
THREE OBJECTS
WERE FLYING AROUND ME.
96
00:05:41,207 --> 00:05:43,209
AT THAT POINT,
I WAS TERRIFIED.
97
00:05:45,911 --> 00:05:48,614
I NEEDED TO CALL FOR HELP.
98
00:05:48,614 --> 00:05:51,150
Narrator:
CARLOS MAKES AN EMERGENCY CALL
99
00:05:51,150 --> 00:05:53,152
TO MEXICO CITY AIRPORT.
100
00:05:53,152 --> 00:05:55,421
THIS IS THE ACTUAL RECORDING
OF THAT CALL,
101
00:05:55,421 --> 00:05:57,656
THE FIRST TIME
IT HAS EVER BEEN BROADCAST
102
00:05:57,656 --> 00:05:59,525
ON AMERICAN TELEVISION.
103
00:06:12,771 --> 00:06:15,574
Interpreter:
I WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED.
104
00:06:15,574 --> 00:06:17,743
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY,
105
00:06:17,743 --> 00:06:20,913
I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL
OVER THE AIRCRAFT.
106
00:06:25,952 --> 00:06:29,688
THREE UFOs
ARE SURROUNDING THE PLANE.
107
00:06:29,688 --> 00:06:32,724
Interpreter: I'D NEVER RECEIVED
A CALL LIKE THAT.
108
00:06:32,724 --> 00:06:35,728
WE HEARD A MAYDAY
EMERGENCY CALL.
109
00:06:35,728 --> 00:06:39,832
THE VOICE WAS VERY STRESSED
AND ALMOST SHOUTING.
110
00:06:42,868 --> 00:06:47,539
WE WERE ALL CONCERNED.
THE CALL UNNERVED US ALL.
111
00:06:47,539 --> 00:06:51,409
Narrator: BEFORE CARLOS
CAN FULLY EXPLAIN HIS SITUATION,
112
00:06:51,410 --> 00:06:55,281
THE PLANE STARTS
TO DRAMATICALLY CHANGE COURSE.
113
00:06:55,281 --> 00:06:58,050
Interpreter: ALL OF A SUDDEN,
THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO ASCEND
114
00:06:58,050 --> 00:07:00,086
WITHOUT MY INPUT.
115
00:07:03,155 --> 00:07:05,823
Narrator: CARLOS CAN DO NOTHING
BUT WATCH IN HORROR
116
00:07:05,824 --> 00:07:08,927
AS THE ALTITUDE METER
RISES EVER HIGHER.
117
00:07:08,927 --> 00:07:15,334
Interpreter: 10,100. 10,200.
10,300. 10,400. 10,500.
118
00:07:15,334 --> 00:07:17,170
WHO KNOWS WHERE TO?
119
00:07:18,570 --> 00:07:23,242
WHO IS IT? WHO IS COMING?
WHO ARE THEY? WHAT DO THEY WANT?
120
00:07:24,910 --> 00:07:28,313
Narrator: THE PLANE
CREEPS PAST 15,000 FEET.
121
00:07:28,313 --> 00:07:30,750
CARLOS IS IN TROUBLE.
122
00:07:30,750 --> 00:07:35,053
HIS SMALL PLANE
COULD EASILY STALL.
123
00:07:35,053 --> 00:07:38,223
Interpreter: I WAS ONLY AROUND
20 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME.
124
00:07:38,223 --> 00:07:40,092
AT THE TIME,
I WAS THINKING ABOUT MYSELF,
125
00:07:40,092 --> 00:07:42,061
MY PARENTS, AND FAMILY.
126
00:07:42,061 --> 00:07:45,931
I WAS IN AN AWFUL STATE.
127
00:07:47,799 --> 00:07:50,536
I WAS A NERVOUS WRECK.
128
00:07:52,104 --> 00:07:55,440
THAT'S A PILOT'S
WORST NIGHTMARE.
129
00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:57,577
Narrator: BUT JUST AS CARLOS
THINKS THE PLANE
130
00:07:57,577 --> 00:08:00,112
IS ABOUT TO FALL OUT OF THE SKY,
131
00:08:00,112 --> 00:08:05,251
THE STRANGE OBJECTS FLY OFF
AS QUICKLY AS THEY ARRIVED.
132
00:08:06,752 --> 00:08:08,220
Interpreter:
I TRIED TO TURN AND REALIZED
133
00:08:08,220 --> 00:08:10,189
I HAD REGAINED CONTROL
OF THE AIRCRAFT.
134
00:08:12,758 --> 00:08:15,327
Narrator: CARLOS IMMEDIATELY
STARTS TO LOWER HIS ALTITUDE
135
00:08:15,327 --> 00:08:20,699
AND HEADS TOWARD THE HAZE
OF MEXICO CITY ON THE HORIZON.
136
00:08:20,699 --> 00:08:23,736
Interpreter: I WAS WORRIED
THE OBJECTS WOULD COME BACK.
137
00:08:23,736 --> 00:08:26,337
I TRIED TO DESCEND
AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
138
00:08:26,338 --> 00:08:29,375
I WAS EAGER TO LAND.
139
00:08:29,375 --> 00:08:33,179
Narrator: BUT CARLOS' ORDEAL
IS FAR FROM OVER.
140
00:08:34,380 --> 00:08:35,881
THE COCKPIT LIGHTS INDICATE
141
00:08:35,881 --> 00:08:40,620
THAT THE LANDING GEAR
CANNOT BE LOCKED.
142
00:08:42,854 --> 00:08:44,824
Interpreter:
WHEN THE THIRD OBJECT HAD STRUCK
143
00:08:44,824 --> 00:08:47,425
THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE,
144
00:08:47,426 --> 00:08:49,362
IT MAY HAVE DAMAGED
THE LANDING GEAR.
145
00:08:49,362 --> 00:08:50,996
Narrator:
CARLOS NOW HAS NO CHOICE
146
00:08:50,996 --> 00:08:54,132
BUT TO KEEP DESCENDING
147
00:08:54,133 --> 00:08:57,837
AND PREPARE FOR A CRASH LANDING.
148
00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:08,068
Narrator:
IN THE SKIES OVER MEXICO CITY,
149
00:09:08,068 --> 00:09:10,569
TERRIFIED PILOT
CARLOS DE LOS SANTOS
150
00:09:10,570 --> 00:09:12,172
FINDS HIMSELF SURROUNDED
151
00:09:12,172 --> 00:09:15,175
BY THREE
UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS.
152
00:09:15,175 --> 00:09:18,111
AFTER APPARENTLY TAKING CONTROL
OF HIS PLANE,
153
00:09:18,111 --> 00:09:21,148
THEY SUDDENLY FLY OFF.
154
00:09:21,148 --> 00:09:23,016
CARLOS REGAINS CONTROL
OF HIS AIRCRAFT
155
00:09:23,016 --> 00:09:25,652
BUT, CRUCIALLY,
NOT THE LANDING GEAR.
156
00:09:28,789 --> 00:09:31,024
Interpreter: THE THIRD OBJECT
HIT THE BOTTOM OF THE PLANE.
157
00:09:31,024 --> 00:09:34,662
THE LANDING GEAR WAS DAMAGED.
158
00:09:34,662 --> 00:09:36,730
THE THREE GREEN L.E.D. LIGHTS
WERE FLICKERING,
159
00:09:36,730 --> 00:09:38,966
WHICH INDICATED THE LANDING GEAR
HAD BEEN DEPLOYED.
160
00:09:38,966 --> 00:09:41,969
HOWEVER,
THIS DIDN'T MEAN IT WAS SECURE.
161
00:09:44,638 --> 00:09:47,675
Narrator: THE CONTROL TOWER
PREPARES FOR A CRASH LANDING.
162
00:09:52,579 --> 00:09:55,081
Interpreter:
THEY WERE VERY CONCERNED
163
00:09:55,081 --> 00:09:56,583
BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS THE RISK
164
00:09:56,583 --> 00:09:59,818
THAT IF YOU LAND WITHOUT THE
LANDING GEAR DEPLOYED PROPERLY,
165
00:09:59,819 --> 00:10:03,156
IT MAY CAUSE A SPARK
THAT WOULD IGNITE THE FUEL TANK
166
00:10:03,156 --> 00:10:05,759
AND BLOW UP THE PLANE.
167
00:10:05,759 --> 00:10:07,193
Narrator:
AIR-TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS
168
00:10:07,194 --> 00:10:09,062
CANNOT RISK INJURING OTHERS,
169
00:10:09,062 --> 00:10:11,031
SO THEY TAKE DRASTIC MEASURES.
170
00:10:11,031 --> 00:10:15,969
MEXICO'S BUSIEST AIRPORT
MUST BE SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY.
171
00:10:15,969 --> 00:10:18,105
Interpreter:
I WAS DESPERATE BY THEN.
172
00:10:18,105 --> 00:10:22,876
Narrator: CARLOS IS INSTRUCTED
TO LAND AS SAFELY AS HE CAN,
173
00:10:22,876 --> 00:10:25,612
SO HE CHOOSES A GRASS STRIP
BETWEEN THE RUNWAYS
174
00:10:25,612 --> 00:10:27,314
AWAY FROM OTHER TRAFFIC.
175
00:10:27,314 --> 00:10:31,450
Interpreter: MY ONLY CONCERN
WAS TO LAND SAFELY.
176
00:10:31,451 --> 00:10:33,320
I WAS CRYING.
177
00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:37,224
Narrator: BUT FOR REASONS
THAT REMAIN A MYSTERY,
178
00:10:37,224 --> 00:10:39,760
THE LANDING GEAR
SUDDENLY STARTS TO WORK AGAIN.
179
00:10:47,467 --> 00:10:50,203
Interpreter: I OPENED THE DOOR,
LEFT THE ENGINE ON,
180
00:10:50,203 --> 00:10:53,207
AND RUSHED OFF THE PLANE.
181
00:10:54,441 --> 00:10:57,911
THE PLANE IS OKAY. YOU ARE OKAY.
182
00:10:57,911 --> 00:10:59,947
EVERYTHING IS OKAY.
183
00:11:07,888 --> 00:11:10,724
Narrator: ONCE CARLOS' STORY
ABOUT THE THREE UFOs
184
00:11:10,724 --> 00:11:12,993
MAKES IT WAY INTO THE NEWS,
185
00:11:12,993 --> 00:11:15,829
HE IS TAKEN TO THE AIRPORT'S
AVIATION SERVICES CENTER
186
00:11:15,829 --> 00:11:19,065
FOR ASSESSMENT.
187
00:11:19,065 --> 00:11:21,969
Interpreter: WE ARRIVED
AT THE AVIATION SERVICES.
188
00:11:21,969 --> 00:11:23,337
THEY STARTED QUESTIONING ME.
189
00:11:23,337 --> 00:11:25,804
"WHAT HAPPENED?"
HOW AM I FEELING?
190
00:11:25,805 --> 00:11:27,241
[ MONITOR BEEPING ]
191
00:11:27,241 --> 00:11:32,346
THEY THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE BEEN
DRUNK, DRUGGED, OR STARVING.
192
00:11:32,346 --> 00:11:34,248
[ INHALES DEEPLY ]
193
00:11:35,516 --> 00:11:40,054
Narrator:
CONDUCTING THE EXAMINATION
IS DR. LUIS AMEZCUA.
194
00:11:43,023 --> 00:11:45,224
Interpreter:
WE DID A COMPLETE CHECKUP,
195
00:11:45,224 --> 00:11:47,327
AS WAS USUAL WITH PILOTS.
196
00:11:47,327 --> 00:11:51,832
WE DID AN AUDIO TEST,
CHECKED HIS VISION, CARDIOGRAM.
197
00:11:51,832 --> 00:11:53,967
Narrator:
BLOOD TESTS REVEAL THAT CARLOS
198
00:11:53,967 --> 00:11:58,170
IS NOT UNDER THE INFLUENCE
OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS.
199
00:11:58,171 --> 00:12:01,874
ONE OF THE CONDITIONS THAT
COULD EXPLAIN WHAT CARLOS SAW
200
00:12:01,874 --> 00:12:04,510
IS OXYGEN DEFICIENCY.
201
00:12:04,510 --> 00:12:06,446
THIS LEAVES NO TRACE.
202
00:12:06,446 --> 00:12:08,916
CLINICALLY REFERRED TO
AS HYPOXIA,
203
00:12:08,916 --> 00:12:11,718
SYMPTOMS CAN INCLUDE
HALLUCINATIONS.
204
00:12:11,718 --> 00:12:14,621
HYPOXIA CAN BE CAUSED
BY HIGH ALTITUDES.
205
00:12:14,621 --> 00:12:18,659
DID THE RAPID ASCENT
CAUSE CARLOS TO SEE THINGS?
206
00:12:21,928 --> 00:12:26,700
Interpreter: THERE ARE
FOUR STAGES TO HYPOXIA.
207
00:12:26,700 --> 00:12:30,471
THE FIRST ONE PRESENTS ITSELF
UP TO 10,000 FEET.
208
00:12:30,471 --> 00:12:32,871
AT THIS STAGE,
THE HEALTHY INDIVIDUAL
209
00:12:32,872 --> 00:12:35,775
WILL FEEL NO SYMPTOMS.
210
00:12:35,775 --> 00:12:41,180
THE SECOND STAGE OCCURS
BETWEEN 12,000 AND 15,000 FEET.
211
00:12:43,383 --> 00:12:45,718
THAT'S WHEN THE BODY STARTS
TO BECOME AWARE
212
00:12:45,718 --> 00:12:48,388
OF THE LACK OF OXYGEN.
213
00:12:48,388 --> 00:12:52,492
BREATHING BECOMES FASTER,
AND HYPERVENTILATION BEGINS.
214
00:12:53,693 --> 00:12:56,596
Narrator: BUT CARLOS CLAIMS
HE FIRST SAW THE OBJECTS
215
00:12:56,596 --> 00:13:00,567
BEFORE THE CLIMB,
AT 10,000 FEET,
216
00:13:00,567 --> 00:13:04,571
WELL BELOW THE ALTITUDE THAT
WOULD TRIGGER HALLUCINATIONS.
217
00:13:16,716 --> 00:13:20,287
CARLOS' MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS
RULE OUT DRUGS AND ALCOHOL,
218
00:13:20,287 --> 00:13:23,791
AND HALLUCINATIONS
WERE UNLIKELY.
219
00:13:25,859 --> 00:13:27,393
DR. RICHARD HAINES
220
00:13:27,393 --> 00:13:30,631
WAS A RESEARCH SCIENTIST AT NASA
FOR 20 YEARS
221
00:13:30,631 --> 00:13:33,165
AND IS NOW CHIEF SCIENTIST
AT NARCAP,
222
00:13:33,166 --> 00:13:37,571
THE NATIONAL AVIATION REPORTING
CENTER FOR ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA.
223
00:13:40,106 --> 00:13:42,109
DR. HAINES SOON DISCOVERS
224
00:13:42,109 --> 00:13:44,478
THAT CARLOS
IS NOT THE ONLY EYEWITNESS
225
00:13:44,478 --> 00:13:46,412
TO THE DAY'S STRANGE EVENTS.
226
00:13:46,412 --> 00:13:49,716
JULIO DIAZ HAD HIS EYES
FIXED ON THE RADAR SCREEN
227
00:13:49,716 --> 00:13:52,386
DURING HIS CONVERSATION
WITH CARLOS.
228
00:13:52,386 --> 00:13:54,820
Interpreter:
IN 26 YEARS OF WORK,
229
00:13:54,821 --> 00:13:57,457
I'VE NEVER HAD ANOTHER
EXPERIENCE LIKE THIS.
230
00:13:57,457 --> 00:13:59,960
TO THIS DAY,
231
00:13:59,960 --> 00:14:03,530
IT WAS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
THAT I CANNOT EXPLAIN.
232
00:14:03,530 --> 00:14:06,732
Narrator: WHAT JULIO SEES
DEEPENS THE MYSTERY
233
00:14:06,733 --> 00:14:11,138
AROUND CARLOS' ENCOUNTER
IN THE SKIES OVER MEXICO CITY.
234
00:14:11,138 --> 00:14:13,039
THERE WAS NO DOUBT
235
00:14:13,039 --> 00:14:15,909
THERE WAS ANOTHER OBJECT
FLYING IN THAT AREA.
236
00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:23,235
Narrator:
PILOT CARLOS DE LOS SANTOS
237
00:14:23,235 --> 00:14:26,672
CLAIMS HE ENCOUNTERS
THREE MYSTERIOUS FLYING OBJECTS
238
00:14:26,672 --> 00:14:30,108
AS HE FLIES A SMALL PLANE
TO MEXICO CITY.
239
00:14:30,108 --> 00:14:33,412
BUT WITHOUT EVIDENCE,
IT'S EASY TO DISMISS HIS STORY
240
00:14:33,412 --> 00:14:35,915
AS THE IMAGININGS
OF AN OVERSTRESSED AVIATOR.
241
00:14:35,915 --> 00:14:39,919
JULIO DIAZ WAS THE AIR-TRAFFIC
CONTROLLER ON DUTY THAT DAY.
242
00:14:39,919 --> 00:14:43,689
UNTIL NOW, HE HAS REFUSED
TO SPEAK PUBLICLY
243
00:14:43,689 --> 00:14:45,124
OF WHAT HE WITNESSED THAT DAY.
244
00:14:45,124 --> 00:14:47,960
Interpreter: I WAS SITTING
AT THE RADAR TERMINAL
245
00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:50,396
WHEN THE PILOT RADIOED.
246
00:14:50,396 --> 00:14:55,701
HE WAS LOCATED 48 MILES SOUTH
OF MEXICO CITY AIRPORT,
247
00:14:55,701 --> 00:14:57,470
AND HE SAID
HE HAD BEEN SURROUNDED
248
00:14:57,470 --> 00:15:00,005
BY SOME UNIDENTIFIED OBJECTS.
249
00:15:05,978 --> 00:15:08,680
WHEN THE PLANE
WAS ABOUT 15 MILES
250
00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:12,117
FROM MEXICO CITY AIRPORT,
251
00:15:12,117 --> 00:15:16,923
WE SAW ANOTHER BLIP
RIGHT NEXT TO THE PLANE.
252
00:15:18,591 --> 00:15:20,726
THERE WAS NO DOUBT
253
00:15:20,726 --> 00:15:25,231
THERE WAS ANOTHER OBJECT
FLYING IN THAT AREA.
254
00:15:25,231 --> 00:15:27,133
Narrator: NO OTHER AIRPLANES
ARE REGISTERED
255
00:15:27,133 --> 00:15:29,969
AS BEING IN CARLOS' FLIGHT PATH.
256
00:15:29,969 --> 00:15:31,737
DIAZ AND
THE AIR-TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS
257
00:15:31,737 --> 00:15:33,439
REACH THE SAME CONCLUSION --
258
00:15:33,439 --> 00:15:36,075
CARLOS IS TELLING THE TRUTH.
259
00:15:36,075 --> 00:15:39,845
Interpreter:
WE FIGURED IT WAS THE UFOs
THAT WERE BEING REPORTED.
260
00:15:39,845 --> 00:15:45,585
WE ALL BEGAN TO THINK
OF THE POSSIBILITY IT WAS TRUE.
261
00:15:48,754 --> 00:15:50,956
THIS IS IMPORTANT TESTIMONY.
262
00:15:50,956 --> 00:15:53,392
AND, TO ME,
IT'S PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT
263
00:15:53,392 --> 00:15:56,195
BECAUSE IT'S CONFIRMATION
OF A PHYSICAL NATURE.
264
00:15:56,195 --> 00:15:58,230
IT'S RADAR CONFIRMATION.
265
00:15:58,230 --> 00:16:03,068
AND SO IT PROVIDES INDEPENDENT
SUPPORT FOR CARLOS' STORY.
266
00:16:03,068 --> 00:16:05,203
Narrator: BUT JUST BECAUSE
IT'S NOT REGISTERED
267
00:16:05,204 --> 00:16:07,039
DOESN'T MEAN
IT'S FROM ANOTHER WORLD.
268
00:16:07,039 --> 00:16:10,710
COULD IT BE A MILITARY PLANE
FLYING UNDER A VEIL OF SECRECY?
269
00:16:10,710 --> 00:16:13,512
WHILE IT'S POSSIBLE,
JULIO DISMISSES THIS THEORY
270
00:16:13,512 --> 00:16:16,515
BASED ON THE CURIOUS WAY
THE CRAFT MOVES.
271
00:16:16,515 --> 00:16:18,484
Interpreter:
WHAT REALLY GOT OUR ATTENTION
272
00:16:18,484 --> 00:16:20,185
AND CONCERNED US EVEN MORE
273
00:16:20,185 --> 00:16:24,389
WAS THAT IT MADE
A SHARP 270-DEGREE LEFT TURN
274
00:16:24,389 --> 00:16:27,459
IN A RADIUS
OF ONLY 3 TO 4 MILES.
275
00:16:27,459 --> 00:16:30,496
Narrator: THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONAL
MANEUVER FOR ANY AIRCRAFT
276
00:16:30,496 --> 00:16:33,299
AND ONE THAT NO KNOWN
COMMERCIAL PLANE OF THE TIME
277
00:16:33,299 --> 00:16:34,900
COULD ACCOMPLISH.
278
00:16:34,900 --> 00:16:37,002
Interpreter: SOMETHING
THAT'S NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE
279
00:16:37,002 --> 00:16:39,771
BY ME OR MY COLLEAGUES.
280
00:16:39,771 --> 00:16:43,342
Narrator: HAINES IS NOT YET
WILLING TO DISMISS THE IDEA
281
00:16:43,342 --> 00:16:45,845
THAT THE CRAFTS
ARE OF HUMAN ORIGIN.
282
00:16:45,845 --> 00:16:47,980
HE VISITS CARLOS
TO GET MORE INFORMATION.
283
00:16:47,980 --> 00:16:50,382
WELL, WE'RE FACED
WITH A REAL MYSTERY HERE.
284
00:16:50,382 --> 00:16:54,086
WHAT COULD THESE THREE OBJECTS
HAVE BEEN?
285
00:16:54,086 --> 00:16:55,254
AND IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED
286
00:16:55,254 --> 00:16:57,690
THEY MIGHT BE
UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES.
287
00:16:57,690 --> 00:16:59,358
SOMETIMES THEY'RE CALLED DRONES.
288
00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:04,229
THIS SKETCH
THAT YOU MADE IN 1975
289
00:17:04,229 --> 00:17:07,633
SHOWS ME A LONG OVAL, YES?
290
00:17:07,633 --> 00:17:10,836
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
ALWAYS HAVE TO CONSIDER
291
00:17:10,836 --> 00:17:12,837
EXPERIMENTAL MILITARY AIRCRAFT
292
00:17:12,837 --> 00:17:16,274
BEFORE CATEGORIZING SOMETHING
AS TRULY UNIDENTIFIED.
293
00:17:17,910 --> 00:17:20,680
A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE
OF THESE THINGS
294
00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:23,449
ARE ACTUALLY
CLASSIFIED MILITARY AIRCRAFT.
295
00:17:23,449 --> 00:17:26,252
FOR EXAMPLE,
THE U.S. STEALTH BOMBER --
296
00:17:26,251 --> 00:17:30,321
IF YOU'D SEEN THIS LARGE, BLACK,
TRIANGULAR-SHAPED AIRCRAFT
297
00:17:30,322 --> 00:17:32,458
BEFORE PEOPLE KNEW
ABOUT THE STEALTH BOMBER,
298
00:17:32,458 --> 00:17:35,061
YOU MIGHT THINK,
"WOW. I'VE SEEN A UFO."
299
00:17:37,563 --> 00:17:39,565
Narrator:
FROM CARLOS' EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT
300
00:17:39,565 --> 00:17:42,335
AND THE OBJECTS' UNIQUE AGILITY,
301
00:17:42,335 --> 00:17:46,171
DR. HAINES IS FORCED TO COME
TO A CONTROVERSIAL CONCLUSION.
302
00:17:46,171 --> 00:17:49,475
THE OBJECTS CARLOS ENCOUNTERED
ARE NOT MAN-MADE.
303
00:17:49,475 --> 00:17:52,478
WE DIDN'T HAVE DRONES IN 1975
304
00:17:52,478 --> 00:17:55,147
THAT HAD THAT KIND
OF CAPABILITY
305
00:17:55,147 --> 00:17:58,783
OF VERY HIGH-SPEED,
CONTROLLED TURNS,
306
00:17:58,784 --> 00:18:02,354
AND THE NAVIGATION
AND GUIDANCE REQUIRED
307
00:18:02,354 --> 00:18:07,259
TO MAINTAIN A CLOSE POSITION
NEAR ANOTHER AIRPLANE IN FLIGHT.
308
00:18:07,259 --> 00:18:10,628
THAT TAKES VERY HIGH
COMPUTATIONAL POWER.
309
00:18:10,629 --> 00:18:13,398
Narrator: THERE ARE THOUSANDS
OF SIMILAR REPORTS.
310
00:18:13,398 --> 00:18:18,404
CURIOUSLY, MANY OF THEM
COME FROM LATIN AMERICA.
311
00:18:18,404 --> 00:18:21,140
ONE CONTENTIOUS THEORY
ATTEMPTS TO EXPLAIN THIS,
312
00:18:21,140 --> 00:18:24,876
AND THE CLUE COMES
FROM CARLOS' TESTIMONY.
313
00:18:24,876 --> 00:18:29,181
HE STATED THAT THE OBJECTS FLEW
OFF TOWARD MOUNT POPOCATéPETL,
314
00:18:29,181 --> 00:18:31,950
AN ACTIVE VOLCANO
SOUTHEAST OF THE CITY.
315
00:18:31,950 --> 00:18:34,352
IN RECENT YEARS,
THIS MOUNTAIN HAS DEVELOPED
316
00:18:34,352 --> 00:18:36,989
A COLORFUL REPUTATION.
317
00:18:36,989 --> 00:18:40,993
UFO ENTHUSIASTS CARLOS GUZMAN
AND ALFONSO SALAZAR
318
00:18:40,993 --> 00:18:42,727
HAVE NOTED STRANGE SIGHTINGS
319
00:18:42,728 --> 00:18:46,632
NEAR THIS VOLCANO
FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
320
00:18:46,632 --> 00:18:49,601
ON MARCH 12, 2013,
321
00:18:49,601 --> 00:18:52,037
UFO WATCHERS CAPTURE ON VIDEO
322
00:18:52,037 --> 00:18:55,374
A MYSTERIOUS OBJECT
COMING OUT OF IT.
323
00:18:55,374 --> 00:18:57,109
GUZMAN AND SALAZAR BELIEVE
324
00:18:57,109 --> 00:19:00,512
ALIENS USE THE ELECTROMAGNETIC
FORCES ON OUR PLANET
325
00:19:00,512 --> 00:19:02,214
TO POWER THEIR SPACESHIPS.
326
00:19:02,214 --> 00:19:04,416
Interpreter:
IT STANDS TO REASON
327
00:19:04,416 --> 00:19:07,485
THAT THESE UFOs WOULD TEND
TO GO FOR VOLCANOES,
328
00:19:07,486 --> 00:19:12,291
WHERE A LOT OF ELECTROMAGNETIC
ACTIVITY EXISTS.
329
00:19:15,327 --> 00:19:18,730
THE TWO MEN ALSO ASSERT THAT
MANY SOUTH AMERICAN GOVERNMENTS
330
00:19:18,730 --> 00:19:23,469
ARE ACTIVELY COLLECTING DATA ON
UFO SIGHTINGS ALONG THE ANDES.
331
00:19:23,469 --> 00:19:26,037
THE BRAZILIAN UFOLOGIST
A.J. GEVAERD
332
00:19:26,037 --> 00:19:29,842
BELIEVES THIS INFORMATION
IS DELIBERATELY HIDDEN.
333
00:19:31,109 --> 00:19:34,980
MANY OF THE GOVERNMENTS
HAVE BEEN AWARE
334
00:19:34,980 --> 00:19:38,017
OF THE UFO PHENOMENA FOR DECADES
335
00:19:38,017 --> 00:19:41,453
AND HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING
DURING THIS TIME.
336
00:19:41,453 --> 00:19:45,224
ALL GOVERNMENTS IN THE WORLD
ARE HIDING INFORMATION,
337
00:19:45,224 --> 00:19:48,260
SOMETHING THAT WE CANNOT EXPLAIN
TO THE SOCIETY
338
00:19:48,260 --> 00:19:51,096
OR, WORSE,
THAT WE CANNOT CONTROL.
339
00:19:51,096 --> 00:19:55,134
IT'S BETTER TO SAY
THAT IT DOESN'T EXIST.
340
00:19:57,069 --> 00:20:01,239
Narrator: CAN THERE BE ANY TRUTH
TO A MULTINATIONAL COVER-UP?
341
00:20:01,239 --> 00:20:05,244
ACCORDING TO CARLOS,
THE ANSWER IS "YES."
342
00:20:06,545 --> 00:20:08,446
Interpreter:
TWO WEEKS AFTER MY EXPERIENCE,
343
00:20:08,446 --> 00:20:12,350
I WAS OVERTAKEN BY A BLACK CAR.
344
00:20:12,350 --> 00:20:14,520
IT FORCED ME TO STOP.
345
00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:16,589
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
346
00:20:16,589 --> 00:20:18,691
TWO PEOPLE GOT OUT FROM THE CAR.
347
00:20:18,691 --> 00:20:22,395
THEY WERE DRESSED IN BLACK.
348
00:20:24,030 --> 00:20:25,664
ONE OF THEM CAME UP
AND SAID TO ME,
349
00:20:25,664 --> 00:20:28,000
IN A ROBOTIC VOICE,
350
00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:31,369
"STOP TALKING ABOUT THIS.
DON'T SAY ANYMORE."
351
00:20:31,370 --> 00:20:34,306
I GOT SCARED.
352
00:20:34,306 --> 00:20:36,308
I DIDN'T SAY A WORD.
353
00:20:36,308 --> 00:20:39,945
THEY WENT BACK TO THEIR CARS
AND LEFT.
354
00:20:39,945 --> 00:20:41,847
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
355
00:20:41,847 --> 00:20:44,383
I WAS SCARED FOR MY FAMILY.
356
00:20:44,383 --> 00:20:46,451
I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE ANYMORE
TO DO WITH IT.
357
00:20:46,451 --> 00:20:49,655
Narrator: CARLOS WAS
SO TERRIFIED BY THESE THREATS
358
00:20:49,655 --> 00:20:52,724
THAT HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT HIS
EXPERIENCE FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
359
00:20:52,725 --> 00:20:58,597
SO, WHAT DID HAPPEN TO HIM
IN THE AIR THAT DAY IN MAY 1975?
360
00:20:58,597 --> 00:21:01,666
DOCTORS DISCOUNTED
VARIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS,
361
00:21:01,666 --> 00:21:04,503
AND A HOAX HAS BEEN RULED OUT
BY MANY.
362
00:21:04,503 --> 00:21:07,472
[ MONITOR BEEPING ]
363
00:21:07,472 --> 00:21:11,076
I DON'T BELIEVE WHAT CARLOS SAW
WAS A HOAX.
364
00:21:11,076 --> 00:21:14,146
I DON'T BELIEVE
IT WAS A HALLUCINATION.
365
00:21:14,146 --> 00:21:16,248
AND I DON'T BELIEVE
IT WAS A DRONE.
366
00:21:16,248 --> 00:21:18,917
Narrator: RADAR SIGHTINGS
BACK UP CARLOS' CLAIM
367
00:21:18,917 --> 00:21:21,420
THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING
HOVERING NEAR HIS AIRCRAFT.
368
00:21:21,420 --> 00:21:24,557
Diaz's interpreter:
SOMETHING LIKE IT HAS
NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE
369
00:21:24,557 --> 00:21:27,125
BY MY COLLEAGUES OR MYSELF.
370
00:21:27,125 --> 00:21:29,928
Haines: SO, WHAT DOES THAT
LEAVE US WITH?
371
00:21:29,928 --> 00:21:32,331
AN UNEXPLAINED PHENOMENON.
372
00:21:34,532 --> 00:21:36,535
Interpreter: AFTER ALL THESE
YEARS, WITHOUT A DOUBT,
373
00:21:36,535 --> 00:21:41,707
I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE WERE
UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS.
374
00:21:44,877 --> 00:21:46,712
Interpreter:
THERE IS A LOT OF EVIDENCE NOW
375
00:21:46,712 --> 00:21:50,648
THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE IN OUR
SOLAR SYSTEM AND THE UNIVERSE.
376
00:21:50,649 --> 00:21:54,186
IN A WAY,
IT WOULD BE SELFISH OF US
377
00:21:54,186 --> 00:21:58,123
TO THINK THAT WE ARE ALONE,
THAT WE ARE THE ONLY ONES,
378
00:21:58,123 --> 00:22:00,859
AND THAT WE ARE
THE ONLY INTELLIGENT LIFE
379
00:22:00,859 --> 00:22:02,027
IN THE UNIVERSE.
380
00:22:09,902 --> 00:22:11,804
Narrator: 1,400 MILES AWAY,
381
00:22:11,804 --> 00:22:14,974
AN ALARMING DEATH
STARTLES INVESTIGATORS...
382
00:22:14,974 --> 00:22:17,676
THERE WAS NOTHING BURNT
AROUND THE BODY.
383
00:22:17,676 --> 00:22:20,546
Narrator: ...WHILE ANOTHER MAN
LIVES TO TELL A SIMILAR TALE.
384
00:22:20,546 --> 00:22:22,648
Baker: THE DOCTOR
WAS COMPLETELY BAFFLED,
385
00:22:22,648 --> 00:22:25,317
AND HE SAID, "THIS BURNED
FROM THE INSIDE OUT."
386
00:22:25,317 --> 00:22:29,722
Narrator: CAN SCIENCE FIND THE
CAUSE BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN?
387
00:22:31,457 --> 00:22:35,794
IN THE AMERICAN MIDWEST,
A MAN DIES IN A FLASH FIRE.
388
00:22:35,794 --> 00:22:39,565
ON AVERAGE, EIGHT PEOPLE BURN
TO DEATH IN THE U.S. EVERY DAY,
389
00:22:39,565 --> 00:22:42,601
SO THE SITUATION
IS NOT UNUSUAL...
390
00:22:42,601 --> 00:22:45,671
EXCEPT FOR ONE
MYSTERIOUS DETAIL.
391
00:22:45,671 --> 00:22:48,239
WHY IS HE COMPLETELY REDUCED
TO ASH,
392
00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:52,177
BUT EVERYTHING AROUND HIM
REMAINS UNTOUCHED?
393
00:22:52,177 --> 00:22:55,047
INVESTIGATORS
RULE OUT HOMICIDE TODAY
394
00:22:55,047 --> 00:22:57,883
AFTER A BIZARRE DEATH
IN SEQUOYAH COUNTY.
395
00:22:59,584 --> 00:23:01,585
INVESTIGATORS SAY
OTHER PARTS OF THE HOUSE
396
00:23:01,586 --> 00:23:04,256
DIDN'T HAVE FIRE DAMAGE,
397
00:23:04,256 --> 00:23:06,792
AND THERE WERE NO SIGNS
OF STRUGGLE.
398
00:23:06,792 --> 00:23:08,727
IT'S VERY UNUSUAL,
AND IT'S BIZARRE,
399
00:23:08,727 --> 00:23:10,461
AND I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.
400
00:23:10,462 --> 00:23:13,732
Narrator:
THE FIRE IS RULED A MYSTERY,
401
00:23:13,732 --> 00:23:17,336
AND THE OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION
ENDS.
402
00:23:17,336 --> 00:23:19,938
BUT LOCALS ARE NOT READY
TO CLOSE THE BOOKS
403
00:23:19,938 --> 00:23:22,074
ON THIS CURIOUS CASE.
404
00:23:22,074 --> 00:23:25,911
THEY INVITE PARANORMAL
INVESTIGATOR LARRY ARNOLD
405
00:23:25,911 --> 00:23:28,046
TO COME TO SEQUOYAH COUNTY.
406
00:23:28,046 --> 00:23:31,182
ARNOLD LEADS AN ORGANIZATION
CALLED ParaScience INTERNATIONAL
407
00:23:31,183 --> 00:23:33,385
AND HAS PUBLISHED BOOKS
AND ARTICLES
408
00:23:33,385 --> 00:23:35,887
ON SPONTANEOUS HUMAN COMBUSTION.
409
00:23:35,887 --> 00:23:37,389
CAN HE UNCOVER THE ANSWER?
410
00:23:44,930 --> 00:23:47,097
WE'RE EAGER TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT THIS CASE
411
00:23:47,098 --> 00:23:50,703
BECAUSE IT SOUNDS VERY
FASCINATING, VERY MYSTERIOUS,
412
00:23:50,703 --> 00:23:53,205
AND PRESENTLY QUITE UNEXPLAINED.
413
00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:02,136
Narrator:
AFTER A MYSTERIOUS FIRE,
414
00:24:02,136 --> 00:24:04,070
PARANORMAL INVESTIGATOR
LARRY ARNOLD
415
00:24:04,070 --> 00:24:06,206
IS QUESTIONING WITNESSES.
416
00:24:06,206 --> 00:24:10,110
HE BEGINS BY INTERVIEWING
THE LOCAL SHERIFF, RON LOCKHART.
417
00:24:12,912 --> 00:24:16,750
LOCKHART HAS INVESTIGATED
ARSON CASES FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
418
00:24:18,218 --> 00:24:21,821
BUT HE'S NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
419
00:24:21,821 --> 00:24:22,957
Lockhart: IT WAS OBVIOUS
420
00:24:22,957 --> 00:24:25,792
THAT SOMETHING BIZARRE
HAD HAPPENED HERE.
421
00:24:25,792 --> 00:24:28,028
THAT WAS A VERY UNUSUAL
FIRE SCENE.
422
00:24:28,028 --> 00:24:30,130
NORMALLY,
YOU FIND BURNED BODIES
423
00:24:30,130 --> 00:24:32,364
IN A HOUSE THAT'S BASICALLY
BURNED DOWN ON TOP OF THEM.
424
00:24:32,365 --> 00:24:35,368
AND NORMALLY,
THEY'RE NOT AS DAMAGED
425
00:24:35,368 --> 00:24:37,838
AS BAD
AS THIS BODY WAS DAMAGED.
426
00:24:39,740 --> 00:24:42,475
RICK RUSSELL
IS THE LOCAL FIRE CHIEF.
427
00:24:42,475 --> 00:24:45,411
HE, TOO, IS BAFFLED.
428
00:24:45,412 --> 00:24:50,016
I ARRIVED ON SCENE
AT 10:51 A.M.
429
00:24:50,016 --> 00:24:52,753
I NOTICED WHEN I PULLED UP
430
00:24:52,753 --> 00:24:54,655
WE ONLY HAD A SLIGHT AMOUNT
OF SMOKE
431
00:24:54,655 --> 00:24:56,156
COMING FROM THE RESIDENCE,
NO FLAME.
432
00:24:56,156 --> 00:24:57,691
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
433
00:24:57,691 --> 00:25:02,963
THE THING THAT REALLY
SURPRISED ME WAS THE --
434
00:25:04,832 --> 00:25:08,135
THERE WAS NOTHING BURNT
AROUND THE BODY.
435
00:25:08,135 --> 00:25:12,672
THE REFRIGERATOR
JUST INCHES FORM THE BODY,
436
00:25:12,672 --> 00:25:16,710
PLASTIC HANDLE ON THE
REFRIGERATOR DOOR -- NO MELTING.
437
00:25:17,945 --> 00:25:22,683
PLASTIC HANDLE ON THE
COOKING RANGE -- NO MELTING.
438
00:25:24,117 --> 00:25:27,587
TRASH BAG LAYING
JUST INCHES FROM THE BODY --
439
00:25:27,587 --> 00:25:29,523
IT WASN'T WRINKLED
FROM HEAT.
440
00:25:30,457 --> 00:25:34,795
THIS FIRE ORIGINATED
AND STOPPED AT THE BODY.
441
00:25:34,795 --> 00:25:38,231
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
442
00:25:41,101 --> 00:25:43,203
Narrator:
FROM THE EVIDENCE AT THE SCENE,
443
00:25:43,203 --> 00:25:47,607
IT APPEARS THAT IT WAS
THE BODY ALONE THAT WAS ON FIRE.
444
00:25:47,607 --> 00:25:51,578
RUSSELL CONCLUDES
THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL SOURCE,
445
00:25:51,578 --> 00:25:54,581
SUCH AS AN EXPLOSION
CAUSED BY GASOLINE.
446
00:25:54,581 --> 00:25:57,550
I WOULD RULE AGAINST
A FLASHOVER TYPE
447
00:25:57,550 --> 00:26:00,988
BECAUSE I THINK WE WOULD HAVE
HAD MORE EVIDENCE OF BURNING.
448
00:26:00,988 --> 00:26:03,756
THE CEILING AREA,
449
00:26:03,756 --> 00:26:05,592
EVEN THE STOVE
AND THE REFRIGERATOR
450
00:26:05,592 --> 00:26:09,863
SHOULD HAVE SHOWN SIGNS IF WE
HAD AN EXPLOSION-TYPE FIRE.
451
00:26:09,863 --> 00:26:13,100
EVERYONE WHO ATTENDS THE SCENE
IS MYSTIFIED.
452
00:26:13,100 --> 00:26:16,002
HOW DID THIS MAN DIE SO BRUTALLY
453
00:26:16,002 --> 00:26:20,140
WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE IS INTACT?
454
00:26:20,140 --> 00:26:23,043
LARRY ARNOLD BELIEVES
IT HAS THE HALLMARKS
455
00:26:23,043 --> 00:26:25,445
OF A HIGHLY DEBATABLE
PHENOMENON --
456
00:26:25,445 --> 00:26:28,148
SPONTANEOUS HUMAN COMBUSTION.
457
00:26:28,148 --> 00:26:29,750
IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY
PHENOMENON.
458
00:26:29,750 --> 00:26:32,452
IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT
TO INVESTIGATE.
459
00:26:32,452 --> 00:26:34,754
Lockhart: IT WAS BIZARRE BECAUSE
EVERYTHING THAT WAS MENTIONED,
460
00:26:34,754 --> 00:26:37,391
AS FAR AS THE EXPLANATION
461
00:26:37,391 --> 00:26:39,624
AND THE CHARACTERISTIC OF
SPONTANEOUS HUMAN COMBUSTION,
462
00:26:39,625 --> 00:26:41,662
YOU KNOW,
WE CAN'T RULE THAT OUT.
463
00:26:41,662 --> 00:26:44,998
Narrator: THE PHENOMENON HAS
MYSTIFIED AND DIVIDED OPINION
464
00:26:44,998 --> 00:26:46,867
FOR OVER 300 YEARS.
465
00:26:46,867 --> 00:26:51,004
SO, IS IT BASED ON SCIENCE
OR LEGEND?
466
00:26:51,004 --> 00:26:54,574
SINCE THE FIRST RECORDED CASE
IN 1641,
467
00:26:54,574 --> 00:26:58,076
OVER 200 INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN
REPORTED AROUND THE WORLD
468
00:26:58,077 --> 00:27:02,549
FROM AUSTRALIA TO THE U.S.
469
00:27:02,549 --> 00:27:06,386
IN 1986, A RETIRED FIREFIGHTER
MYSTERIOUSLY BURNED TO DEATH
470
00:27:06,386 --> 00:27:09,189
IN HIS OWN APARTMENT
IN CROWN POINT, NEW YORK.
471
00:27:09,189 --> 00:27:12,525
IN 2011, AN ELDERLY MAN
WHO BURNED TO DEATH
472
00:27:12,525 --> 00:27:14,994
IN GALWAY, IRELAND,
MADE HEADLINES
473
00:27:14,994 --> 00:27:18,997
WHEN THE CORONER GAVE A VERDICT
OF SPONTANEOUS HUMAN COMBUSTION,
474
00:27:18,998 --> 00:27:21,434
ALSO KNOWN AS "SHC."
475
00:27:21,434 --> 00:27:24,838
YET MANY DISPUTE THAT
IT'S A REAL PHENOMENON AT ALL.
476
00:27:24,838 --> 00:27:27,974
SCIENCE INVESTIGATOR JOE NICKELL
IS SKEPTICAL.
477
00:27:27,974 --> 00:27:31,745
IN 1984, HE UNDERTOOK
A TWO-YEAR RESEARCH PROJECT
478
00:27:31,745 --> 00:27:36,049
STUDYING 30 HISTORICAL CASES
OF ALLEGED SHC.
479
00:27:36,049 --> 00:27:38,651
SCIENCE CANNOT FIND
ANY MECHANISM
480
00:27:38,651 --> 00:27:42,255
BY WHICH THE HUMAN BODY
CAN BURST INTO FLAME.
481
00:27:42,255 --> 00:27:44,090
AND ALL SUCH SCENARIOS
482
00:27:44,090 --> 00:27:48,262
THAT ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN
HOW THE BODY COULD COMBUST
483
00:27:48,262 --> 00:27:51,497
ARE JUST SO MUCH SCIENCE FICTION
484
00:27:51,497 --> 00:27:54,101
AND PSEUDOSCIENCE AND NONSENSE.
485
00:27:57,236 --> 00:28:00,239
Narrator: INVESTIGATOR
LARRY ARNOLD DISAGREES.
486
00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:02,776
HE THINKS
SPONTANEOUS HUMAN COMBUSTION
487
00:28:02,776 --> 00:28:06,345
IS A GENUINE ANOMALY
THAT NEEDS FURTHER STUDY.
488
00:28:06,346 --> 00:28:09,415
IT'S EASY FOR ACADEMICIANS
TO GENERALLY DISMISS SHC
489
00:28:09,415 --> 00:28:11,251
BECAUSE IT BELIES COMMON SENSE.
490
00:28:11,251 --> 00:28:13,954
THE BODY IS 70% TO 80% WATER.
491
00:28:13,954 --> 00:28:16,189
IT'S LIKE TRYING TO IGNITE
A SWIMMING POOL.
492
00:28:16,189 --> 00:28:17,690
THAT'S WHERE THE MYSTERY,
493
00:28:17,690 --> 00:28:19,959
THAT'S WHERE THE UNEXPLAINED
NATURE OF THESE FIRES
494
00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:21,261
COMES INTO PLAY.
495
00:28:21,261 --> 00:28:22,996
Narrator:
BUT COULD THE ANSWER BE HIDDEN
496
00:28:22,996 --> 00:28:24,631
DEEP WITHIN OUR OWN BODIES?
497
00:28:24,631 --> 00:28:27,601
IS THERE SOME TRIGGER
INSIDE OUR FAT CELLS
498
00:28:27,601 --> 00:28:30,571
THAT CAN SPARK AT ANY TIME
AND REDUCE US TO ASH?
499
00:28:34,008 --> 00:28:36,911
[ SIRENS WAIL ]
500
00:28:36,911 --> 00:28:38,445
Narrator:
IN A TYPICAL HOUSE FIRE,
501
00:28:38,445 --> 00:28:41,715
THE CAUSE OF IGNITION
IS EASILY IDENTIFIABLE,
502
00:28:41,715 --> 00:28:44,985
AND THE REMAINS OF A HUMAN BODY
ARE RECOGNIZABLE.
503
00:28:44,986 --> 00:28:46,954
EXCEPT IN SEVERE CASES,
504
00:28:46,954 --> 00:28:50,425
THE INTERNAL ORGANS AND
THE SKELETON TEND TO BE INTACT.
505
00:28:53,428 --> 00:28:56,396
BUT THE FATALITY
LARRY ARNOLD IS INVESTIGATING
506
00:28:56,396 --> 00:28:58,099
LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT.
507
00:28:58,099 --> 00:29:01,268
HERE, THE BODY HAS BURNED
TO A CINDER,
508
00:29:01,268 --> 00:29:04,538
YET THE SURROUNDINGS
ARE VIRTUALLY UNTOUCHED.
509
00:29:04,538 --> 00:29:08,075
ONE POSSIBLE EXPLANATION
IS CALLED THE WICK EFFECT,
510
00:29:08,075 --> 00:29:10,945
AND THERE'S NOTHING SPONTANEOUS
ABOUT IT.
511
00:29:10,945 --> 00:29:13,615
COULD THIS BE WHAT KILLED
THE MAN IN OKLAHOMA?
512
00:29:15,616 --> 00:29:19,821
ARNOLD ARRANGES A TEST
TO FIND OUT.
513
00:29:25,493 --> 00:29:27,829
Arnold: WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO
IN THIS BURN CHAMBER TODAY
514
00:29:27,829 --> 00:29:31,898
IS ATTEMPT TO REPLICATE
OR DUPLICATE THE WICK EFFECT,
515
00:29:31,899 --> 00:29:34,569
WHICH IS WHAT NAYSAYERS
516
00:29:34,569 --> 00:29:36,803
OF SPONTANEOUS HUMAN COMBUSTION
CASES
517
00:29:36,804 --> 00:29:41,776
SAY IS THE EXPLANATION FOR
WHOLLY IMMOLATED HUMAN BEINGS.
518
00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:47,548
Narrator:
ACCORDING TO THE WICK EFFECT,
519
00:29:47,548 --> 00:29:51,619
THE FAT CONTENT OF THE HUMAN
BODY FUELS THE FATAL FIRE.
520
00:29:51,619 --> 00:29:56,157
A 168-POUND MALE
HAS AROUND 30 POUNDS OF FAT.
521
00:29:56,157 --> 00:29:57,925
WHEN BURNED, THIS FAT RELEASES
522
00:29:57,925 --> 00:30:01,561
AROUND 105,000 CALORIES
OF ENERGY,
523
00:30:01,562 --> 00:30:04,599
EQUAL TO THREE GALLONS
OF GASOLINE.
524
00:30:04,599 --> 00:30:07,368
THIS IS ENOUGH
TO ENGULF AN AVERAGE CAR,
525
00:30:07,368 --> 00:30:10,405
BUT CAN IT BURN A BODY?
526
00:30:13,374 --> 00:30:19,680
LARRY USES A HUNK OF FATTY MEAT
TO REPLICATE THE EVENT.
527
00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:22,884
Arnold: WE HAVE A HAM SHANK
HERE, CONTAINING BONE FRAGMENT.
528
00:30:22,884 --> 00:30:25,019
PIG DOES BURN VERY SIMILAR
TO HUMAN FLESH,
529
00:30:25,019 --> 00:30:26,554
SO IT'S AN APPROPRIATE STAND-IN.
530
00:30:26,554 --> 00:30:28,623
WE'RE GOING TO WRAP IT IN CLOTH.
531
00:30:31,959 --> 00:30:35,530
Narrator: AT LEAST
2,000 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT
532
00:30:35,530 --> 00:30:37,898
IS REQUIRED
TO REDUCE A BODY TO ASH.
533
00:30:42,703 --> 00:30:45,873
AT REGULAR INTERVALS,
LARRY MEASURES THE TEMPERATURE.
534
00:30:45,873 --> 00:30:51,479
YEP, WE'RE ALREADY
AT 437 DEGREES AND CLIMBING.
535
00:30:55,316 --> 00:30:57,752
Narrator: AFTER 15 MINUTES,
THE CLOTH IS CHARRED BLACK,
536
00:30:57,752 --> 00:31:00,221
AND THE BURNING HAS STOPPED.
537
00:31:00,221 --> 00:31:02,123
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE MEAT?
538
00:31:02,123 --> 00:31:04,225
Arnold: THE MEAT
HASN'T EVEN BEEN SINGED,
539
00:31:04,225 --> 00:31:06,093
LET ALONE CHARRED TO DRY POWDER.
540
00:31:06,093 --> 00:31:09,496
THE WICK EFFECT DOES NOT WORK
541
00:31:09,496 --> 00:31:12,767
TO EXPLAIN WHOLE-BODY
HUMAN IMMOLATIONS.
542
00:31:12,767 --> 00:31:14,736
THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE
WE MEASURED HERE
543
00:31:14,736 --> 00:31:16,604
WAS JUST UNDER
700 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT
544
00:31:16,604 --> 00:31:18,373
AT THE HEIGHT OF COMBUSTION.
545
00:31:18,373 --> 00:31:20,107
IN A CREMATORIUM, BY COMPARISON,
546
00:31:20,107 --> 00:31:22,276
THE CADAVER IS EXPOSED
TO TEMPERATURES
547
00:31:22,276 --> 00:31:24,412
OF ABOUT 2,400 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT
548
00:31:24,412 --> 00:31:28,783
FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF
TO TWO HOURS.
549
00:31:28,783 --> 00:31:34,422
Narrator: LARRY'S TEST REACHED
A TEMPERATURE OF 518 DEGREES.
550
00:31:35,990 --> 00:31:38,125
TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE,
551
00:31:38,125 --> 00:31:39,859
EVEN A CREMATORIUM INCINERATOR
552
00:31:39,860 --> 00:31:42,330
BURNING AT 2,400 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT
553
00:31:42,330 --> 00:31:45,633
IS UNABLE
TO REDUCE A BODY TO ASH.
554
00:31:45,633 --> 00:31:48,268
AFTER CREMATION,
THE BONES ARE GROUND UP
555
00:31:48,268 --> 00:31:51,172
BEFORE THE REMAINS
ARE PLACED IN AN URN.
556
00:31:54,976 --> 00:31:57,811
Arnold: WHATEVER BURNED
THE HUMAN REMAINS IN OKLAHOMA,
557
00:31:57,811 --> 00:32:01,448
WE SUBMIT, CANNOT BE EXPLAINED
BY THE WICK EFFECT.
558
00:32:03,717 --> 00:32:06,353
Narrator: FOR ARNOLD,
THE WICK EFFECT DOESN'T OFFER
559
00:32:06,353 --> 00:32:09,557
A PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION
FOR THESE MYSTERIOUS DEATHS.
560
00:32:09,557 --> 00:32:11,525
AND THERE'S SOMETHING
EVEN MORE REMARKABLE
561
00:32:11,525 --> 00:32:13,928
ABOUT THIS PHENOMENON.
562
00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:21,835
SOME HAVE ACTUALLY LIVED
TO TELL THE TALE
563
00:32:21,835 --> 00:32:24,538
OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM.
564
00:32:24,538 --> 00:32:27,875
FRANK BAKER IS A DECORATED
VIETNAM WAR VETERAN
565
00:32:27,875 --> 00:32:31,779
WITH TWO PURPLE HEARTS
AND A MEDAL FOR GALLANTRY.
566
00:32:31,779 --> 00:32:34,449
BUT HIS MOST TERRIFYING
BRUSH WITH DEATH
567
00:32:34,449 --> 00:32:36,884
WAS NOT ON ANY BATTLEFIELD.
568
00:32:36,884 --> 00:32:41,622
IT WAS IN VERMONT
IN JUNE OF 1985.
569
00:32:41,622 --> 00:32:43,857
WE WERE GETTING READY
FOR FISHING.
570
00:32:43,857 --> 00:32:47,260
WE WERE SITTING ON THE COUCH
THE DAY BEFORE THE DERBY.
571
00:32:47,260 --> 00:32:49,363
EVERYTHING WAS GREAT.
572
00:32:49,363 --> 00:32:51,532
PETE WAS SITTING NEXT TO ME.
573
00:32:51,532 --> 00:32:54,768
WE WERE HAVING
ONE HELL OF A TIME,
574
00:32:54,768 --> 00:32:57,705
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN --
575
00:33:02,443 --> 00:33:05,680
Willey: IT WAS THE DAMNEDEST
THING I'VE EVER SEEN.
576
00:33:05,680 --> 00:33:09,417
FRANK WAS FREAKING OUT
AND MAKING ME FREAK OUT.
577
00:33:12,853 --> 00:33:17,158
[ SIGHS ]
I WAS IN SHEER PANIC.
578
00:33:21,495 --> 00:33:24,966
ALL I COULD DO
WAS TRY TO FIGHT IT.
579
00:33:24,966 --> 00:33:26,534
I WAS PETRIFIED.
580
00:33:28,735 --> 00:33:33,741
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS TAKING
PLACE WITH MY BODY. NONE.
581
00:33:38,412 --> 00:33:41,115
Narrator: PETE AND FRANK MANAGED
TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES
582
00:33:41,115 --> 00:33:43,117
AND GET TO A DOCTOR.
583
00:33:46,454 --> 00:33:48,522
Baker: THE DOCTOR
WAS COMPLETELY BAFFLED,
584
00:33:48,522 --> 00:33:50,323
AND HE SAID,
"LOOKING AT IT, FRANK,
585
00:33:50,324 --> 00:33:53,093
THIS BURNED
FROM THE INSIDE OUT."
586
00:33:53,093 --> 00:33:55,963
AND HE SAID, "I'VE NEVER, EVER
SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS."
587
00:33:57,364 --> 00:34:01,402
FRANK WAS NOWHERE NEAR
ANY SOURCE OF HEAT OR FLAME.
588
00:34:01,402 --> 00:34:03,838
I WASN'T SMOKING.
THERE WERE NO FLAMES AROUND.
589
00:34:03,838 --> 00:34:07,241
THERE WAS NO LIGHTS ON,
NO MICROWAVES.
590
00:34:07,241 --> 00:34:08,909
ALL THAT WAS COMING IN
WAS THE SUN
591
00:34:08,909 --> 00:34:13,347
FROM THE FAR END OF THE HOUSE
WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
592
00:34:13,347 --> 00:34:16,417
Narrator:
FRANK'S STORY DOESN'T END THERE.
593
00:34:17,784 --> 00:34:20,186
IT'S HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE.
594
00:34:20,186 --> 00:34:21,922
Baker:
WE WERE GOING FISHING.
595
00:34:21,922 --> 00:34:25,159
EVERYTHING WAS GREAT.
596
00:34:25,159 --> 00:34:27,595
AND THEN --
597
00:34:30,864 --> 00:34:33,534
ALL OF A SUDDEN,
I STARTED SCREAMING
AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS.
598
00:34:37,204 --> 00:34:39,373
MY ARMS WERE JUST ON FIRE.
599
00:34:41,507 --> 00:34:44,343
Narrator: ONCE MORE, PETE
MANAGES TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES
600
00:34:44,344 --> 00:34:46,347
AND SAVE FRANK'S LIFE.
601
00:34:46,347 --> 00:34:51,485
I AIN'T NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING IN MY LIFETIME
602
00:34:51,485 --> 00:34:56,657
SUCH AS THE THINGS I SEE
THAT HAPPENED TO FRANK.
603
00:35:00,895 --> 00:35:02,897
Narrator:
TODAY, YEARS LATER,
604
00:35:02,897 --> 00:35:05,933
THE DAMAGE TO HIS SKIN
HAS LARGELY HEALED.
605
00:35:05,933 --> 00:35:09,169
Baker: THE SCARRING
HAS HAD 15 YEARS TO HEAL,
606
00:35:09,169 --> 00:35:10,337
AND IT JUST SETTLED BACK DOWN.
607
00:35:12,105 --> 00:35:14,976
Narrator: BUT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL
SCARS REMAIN.
608
00:35:16,477 --> 00:35:20,647
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT
IN THE FUTURE OR AT ANY TIME
609
00:35:20,647 --> 00:35:22,482
THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN.
610
00:35:25,452 --> 00:35:27,955
Arnold: FRANK BAKER APPEARS
TO FIT ALL THE CRITERIA
611
00:35:27,955 --> 00:35:32,092
FOR SURVIVAL OF PARTIAL
SPONTANEOUS HUMAN COMBUSTION,
612
00:35:32,092 --> 00:35:33,727
AND HE'S HAD TO DEAL WITH IT.
613
00:35:33,727 --> 00:35:34,960
HE'S HAD TO COME TO TERMS
614
00:35:34,961 --> 00:35:37,665
WITH SOMETHING
THAT WAS SAID TO BE IMPOSSIBLE,
615
00:35:37,665 --> 00:35:40,034
SOMETHING THAT COULD NOT HAPPEN.
616
00:35:46,674 --> 00:35:48,876
Narrator:
BUT RECENT RESEARCH
617
00:35:48,876 --> 00:35:51,211
UNDERTAKEN
IN CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND,
618
00:35:51,211 --> 00:35:54,148
MIGHT OFFER NEW INSIGHT
INTO THE ABERRATION.
619
00:35:54,148 --> 00:35:56,584
PROFESSOR BRIAN FORD
620
00:35:56,584 --> 00:35:59,886
IS A LEADING INDEPENDENT
RESEARCHER IN CELL BIOLOGY.
621
00:35:59,886 --> 00:36:03,190
HE BELIEVES
HE'S IDENTIFIED A SUBSTANCE
622
00:36:03,190 --> 00:36:05,091
THAT COULD SOLVE THE PUZZLE,
623
00:36:05,091 --> 00:36:07,594
SOMETHING SO VOLATILE,
624
00:36:07,594 --> 00:36:10,364
IT CAN IGNITE
WITH JUST AN INVISIBLE SPARK,
625
00:36:10,364 --> 00:36:12,666
LIKE THE STATIC FROM A SWEATER.
626
00:36:12,666 --> 00:36:14,168
IT WILL SET FIRE TO THE BOTTLE,
627
00:36:14,168 --> 00:36:16,136
AND IT CAN ALMOST EXPLODE
IN YOUR FACE.
628
00:36:16,136 --> 00:36:20,172
Narrator:
COULD FORD'S THEORY HAVE
FINALLY ZEROED IN ON THE CAUSE?
629
00:36:20,173 --> 00:36:23,344
ARE THERE CHEMICALS
IN THE HUMAN BODY SO DANGEROUS,
630
00:36:23,344 --> 00:36:27,281
THEY ACT LIKE GASOLINE
WAITING FOR A MATCH?
631
00:36:31,970 --> 00:36:34,205
Narrator: FOR CENTURIES,
THE TERRIFYING ENIGMA
632
00:36:34,205 --> 00:36:36,508
OF SPONTANEOUS HUMAN COMBUSTION
633
00:36:36,508 --> 00:36:39,344
HAS BAFFLED RESEARCHERS
ACROSS THE GLOBE.
634
00:36:39,344 --> 00:36:43,081
NOW, IN CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND,
PROFESSOR BRIAN FORD
635
00:36:43,081 --> 00:36:46,584
HAS DEVELOPED A THEORY
THAT MAY EXPLAIN IT.
636
00:36:46,584 --> 00:36:50,755
Ford: I SET OUT TO SEARCH
FOR A COMPOUND IN THE BODY
637
00:36:50,755 --> 00:36:53,858
THAT COULD BURST INTO FLAME.
638
00:36:53,858 --> 00:36:56,361
AND ALTHOUGH
WE OFTEN OVERLOOK THE FACT,
639
00:36:56,361 --> 00:37:00,098
HUMAN BODIES PRODUCE ACETONE.
640
00:37:00,098 --> 00:37:01,933
Narrator: ACETONE,
641
00:37:01,933 --> 00:37:04,802
WHICH IS GENERALLY USED
AS NAIL-VARNISH REMOVER,
642
00:37:04,803 --> 00:37:08,840
IS HIGHLY FLAMMABLE
WITH EXPLOSIVE VAPORS.
643
00:37:08,840 --> 00:37:11,042
Ford: ALL LIVING CELLS
PRODUCE ACETONE,
644
00:37:11,042 --> 00:37:14,646
BUT WHEN YOU'RE ILL,
THE LEVEL OF ACETONE CAN GO UP.
645
00:37:14,646 --> 00:37:18,016
Narrator: IT'S THIS RISE
IN ACETONE LEVELS DURING ILLNESS
646
00:37:18,016 --> 00:37:21,519
THAT PROFESSOR FORD BELIEVES
CAN BE DEADLY.
647
00:37:21,519 --> 00:37:23,889
ACETONE BEHAVES
A LITTLE BIT LIKE GASOLINE DOES.
648
00:37:23,889 --> 00:37:28,291
IF YOU LET A SPARK OFF WHERE
THERE IS THE VAPOR OF ACETONE,
649
00:37:28,292 --> 00:37:29,695
IT WILL SET FIRE TO THE BOTTLE,
650
00:37:29,695 --> 00:37:33,030
AND IT CAN ALMOST EXPLODE
IN YOUR FACE.
651
00:37:33,031 --> 00:37:37,535
Narrator: THE SMALLEST SPARK,
INVISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE,
652
00:37:37,535 --> 00:37:40,238
CAN IGNITE ACETONE.
653
00:37:40,238 --> 00:37:43,008
FOR PROFESSOR FORD,
THIS IS THE KEY
654
00:37:43,008 --> 00:37:47,579
TO WHY THE COMBUSTION
APPEARS SPONTANEOUS.
655
00:37:47,579 --> 00:37:50,782
WE KNOW THAT THINGS,
LIKE A SPARK FROM STATIC --
656
00:37:50,782 --> 00:37:53,384
YOU CAN EVEN COMB YOUR HAIR
AND SEE SPARKS IN THE DARK.
657
00:37:53,384 --> 00:37:55,552
THE MYSTERY IS,
658
00:37:55,553 --> 00:37:58,856
HOW DOES THE PERSON THEMSELVES
BECOME FLAMMABLE?
659
00:37:58,856 --> 00:38:01,393
AND OF COURSE, IF THEY'VE GOT
ACETONE IN THEIR TISSUES,
660
00:38:01,393 --> 00:38:05,130
THAT MIGHT CONVERT A PERSON
FROM BEING INCOMBUSTIBLE
661
00:38:05,130 --> 00:38:08,032
INTO BEING SOMETHING
THAT BURNS LIKE A ROCKET.
662
00:38:15,440 --> 00:38:18,041
Narrator: PROFESSOR FORD
CONDUCTS A COLORFUL EXPERIMENT
663
00:38:18,042 --> 00:38:19,944
TO TEST THIS THEORY.
664
00:38:19,944 --> 00:38:21,312
HE BEGINS BY MAKING
665
00:38:21,312 --> 00:38:24,582
A SCALE-MODEL HUMAN FIGURINE
OUT OF PORK
666
00:38:24,582 --> 00:38:27,686
AND DRESSING IT
IN MINIATURE CLOTHES.
667
00:38:27,686 --> 00:38:29,821
IT'S THEN SOAKED IN ACETONE
668
00:38:29,821 --> 00:38:33,625
SO THAT THE CELLS
BECOME SATURATED.
669
00:38:38,696 --> 00:38:40,632
SO, LET'S SEE.
670
00:38:51,910 --> 00:38:55,280
WHAT I BELIEVE HAPPENS
IN SPONTANEOUS HUMAN COMBUSTION
671
00:38:55,280 --> 00:38:57,983
IS THAT THE COMBINATION
BETWEEN FAT AND ACETONE
672
00:38:57,983 --> 00:38:59,584
BECOMES HIGHLY INFLAMMABLE,
673
00:38:59,584 --> 00:39:01,652
AND THAT IS WHY,
IN A CASE LIKE THIS,
674
00:39:01,652 --> 00:39:04,556
YOU SEE NOT JUST THAT YOU END UP
WITH A BARBECUED PERSON
675
00:39:04,556 --> 00:39:07,692
BUT THAT THE BODY IS DESTROYED
BY THE HEAT ENERGY RELEASED
676
00:39:07,692 --> 00:39:11,228
FROM WITHIN
THE VICTIM'S TISSUES.
677
00:39:11,229 --> 00:39:13,364
AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS
678
00:39:13,364 --> 00:39:19,036
INTO SUCH A TRAGIC, TERRIFYING,
APPALLING WAY TO DIE.
679
00:39:19,037 --> 00:39:23,408
Narrator: WITHIN HALF AN HOUR,
THE MODEL IS REDUCED TO ASH.
680
00:39:24,576 --> 00:39:28,612
BUT, FOR LARRY ARNOLD,
THE EXPERIMENT HAS A FATAL FLAW.
681
00:39:28,613 --> 00:39:31,316
THE DOWNSIDE WE SEE
WITH PROFESSOR FORD'S ATTEMPTS
682
00:39:31,316 --> 00:39:33,384
TO REPLICATE SHC
IN THE LABORATORY
683
00:39:33,384 --> 00:39:36,755
IS THAT HE USES A VERY HIGH
CONCENTRATION OF ACETONE,
684
00:39:36,755 --> 00:39:39,222
AND WE DO NOT BELIEVE
THAT A LIVING PERSON
685
00:39:39,223 --> 00:39:42,193
COULD BE ALIVE WITH THE AMOUNT
OF ACETONE IN THE BODY
686
00:39:42,193 --> 00:39:45,063
THAT HE REQUIRES
FOR HIS EXPERIMENTATION.
687
00:39:45,063 --> 00:39:48,532
WE JUST DON'T FIND IT
ATTRIBUTABLE TO MANY CASES,
688
00:39:48,532 --> 00:39:50,968
IF NOT ALL CASES, OF SHC,
CERTAINLY NOT THE CASES
689
00:39:50,968 --> 00:39:52,938
THAT HAVE BEEN WITNESSED
AND SURVIVED.
690
00:39:55,540 --> 00:39:58,075
Narrator:
SURVIVOR FRANK BAKER HAS NO IDEA
691
00:39:58,075 --> 00:40:00,177
OF HIS ACETONE LEVELS
AT THE TIME,
692
00:40:00,177 --> 00:40:04,449
BUT HE MAINTAINS THAT ILL HEALTH
IS NOT THE ANSWER.
693
00:40:06,884 --> 00:40:09,520
AT THE TIME
THE INCIDENTS TOOK PLACE,
694
00:40:09,520 --> 00:40:12,390
MY HEALTH WAS IN PERFECT SHAPE.
695
00:40:12,390 --> 00:40:15,160
THERE WAS NOTHING,
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
696
00:40:15,160 --> 00:40:18,763
THAT COULD HAVE TRIGGERED
WHAT HAPPENED.
697
00:40:21,199 --> 00:40:22,633
THE WAY I SEE IT,
698
00:40:22,633 --> 00:40:26,036
IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING
IN OUR BODY,
699
00:40:26,036 --> 00:40:28,038
WHETHER IT'S IN
OUR BLOOD STREAM,
700
00:40:28,038 --> 00:40:33,677
WHETHER IT'S ATOMS COMING
TOGETHER THAT MAYBE SHOULDN'T.
701
00:40:33,678 --> 00:40:36,113
Narrator: MAINSTREAM SCIENCE
REMAINS WARY
702
00:40:36,113 --> 00:40:38,516
OF EMBRACING
INSTANTANEOUS COMBUSTION.
703
00:40:38,516 --> 00:40:41,351
TOO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
LINGER.
704
00:40:41,352 --> 00:40:42,987
BUT FOR PEOPLE LIKE BAKER,
705
00:40:42,987 --> 00:40:45,189
THAT'S NO REASON
TO DELAY RESEARCH.
706
00:40:45,189 --> 00:40:48,393
UNTIL SCIENCE TOOK A HARD LOOK
AT ALMOST ANYTHING,
707
00:40:48,393 --> 00:40:50,427
IT WAS CONSIDERED UNEXPLAINED.
708
00:40:50,428 --> 00:40:51,896
Baker:
THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE DYING --
709
00:40:51,896 --> 00:40:54,499
IT'S NOT HAPPENING
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO DIE.
710
00:40:54,499 --> 00:40:57,669
SO, YOU KNOW,
LOOK INTO IT, SCIENTISTS.
711
00:40:57,669 --> 00:40:59,437
HAVE AN OPEN MIND.
712
00:40:59,437 --> 00:41:02,973
THIS IS WHAT WE RELY ON SCIENCE
FOR -- FOR FACTS.
713
00:41:02,973 --> 00:41:06,044
THEY DON'T HAVE THE FACTS,
THEN LOOK FOR THEM.
714
00:41:07,746 --> 00:41:10,882
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE THERE FOR,
TO TRY TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.