Imagine being an amateur photographer taking pictures at the airport. You’re capturing several shots, hoping to find one worth keeping. As you develop the film and glance through the images, you come across one that sends shivers down your spine, and in that moment, you know it’s an image you’ll never be able to erase from your memory: Keith Sapsford plummeting from an airplane.
This is the story of a 14-year-old boy who stowed away on a plane in Australia on February 22, 1970. However, his quest for adventure and new horizons would lead to his tragic end and make him the protagonist of one of the most stunning photographs in history.
The Story of Keith Sapsford
Keith was born in 1956 and grew up in the Randwick neighborhood in the suburbs of Sydney. His father, Charles Sapsford, was a university professor of mechanical and industrial engineering. As Charles recounted, Keith was a very curious boy who was always on the move.
Before the fateful day, the teenager and his family had taken a trip abroad to appease him. However, upon their return, Keith was disheartened to learn that the journey had come to an end. It seemed that Australia was not big enough for him.
Clearly unsure of what to do, the family decided to impose a disciplinary regimen, hoping to calm him down. They took the boy to Boys’ Town, a Roman Catholic institution south of Sydney specializing in children with various behavioral issues.
However, things took a turn for the worse. Keith Sapsford’s overwhelming passion for adventure and travel did not subside, and one day, he escaped from the institution. It is not clear whether he knew where he would end up, but he climbed into one of the wheel wells of a plane bound for Japan, setting in motion the events that would lead to his death.
The Death of the Adventurous Boy
Keith Sapsford spent a couple of days on the run until he reached Sydney Airport. At that time, regulations were not as strict, so airport workers didn’t pay much attention to a lone boy. Thus, he managed to easily slip onto the runway.
In this way, the boy spotted a Douglas DC-8 getting ready for boarding and seized the opportunity.
It is also known that the plane took a couple of hours to take off, with Sapsford inside the compartment. Finally, when it took flight, the plane reopened the compartment to retract the landing gear, and the inevitable happened: the young boy plummeted into the void, falling over 60 meters.
Upon investigating the incident, experts found hand and footprints, as well as threads from the boy’s clothing. It was clear that he had spent his final moments inside the compartment.
But, even if he hadn’t fallen, the most tragic aspect is that Keith Sapsford would likely not have survived. The freezing temperature and lack of oxygen would have overwhelmed him. After all, the boy was only dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and shorts.
A Photograph for History
Perhaps it was just a simple coincidence, but on that day, John Gilpin was taking photographs in the same location. He was simply capturing various shots of the airport, people, and planes taking off or landing. He hoped to capture at least a couple that were worthwhile.
Little did he imagine that one of those images would capture the exact moment when Keith Sapsford plunged into the void, meeting an instant death. A photo that, indeed, would become one of the most famous in history.
A week after the incident, Gilpin realized what he had captured during his peaceful photo session. He developed the photos in peace, and at one point, he noticed the silhouette of a child in the air, right next to an airplane. The boy had his hands raised, as if reaching for something.
The photo has sparked much controversy since then – a chilling reminder of how a young life ended fatally. Moreover, it illustrates the dangers of being a stowaway on commercial flights.
