Haunting Moment Sailors Spot Ghost Ship Near The Bermuda Triangle

The moment when two sailors came across an abandoned ship in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle really sends chills down your spine, especially when you think about the area's mysterious history over the last few centuries.

Often referred to as the 'Devil's Triangle', the enigma of the Bermuda Triangle began to capture public attention on December 5, 1945, after the infamous disappearance of Flight 19 from Florida.

The three vertices of this triangle are marked by Bermuda to the north, Puerto Rico to the south, and the coastal waters near Miami to the west.

But why is this area considered so perilous?

To start with, the disappearance of Flight 19, where neither the crew nor any wreckage was ever found, sets a foreboding tone. From 1945 to 2017, there have been about 10 reported cases of aircraft mysteriously vanishing in this region.

They made an odd discovery at sea YouTube / Ocean Research Project

Additionally, from 1800 to 2015, 14 ships have also disappeared in these waters, leading to wild theories, including some that suggest alien abductions are to blame for these vanishings.

Contrarily, Australian scientist Karl Kruszelnicki challenges these sensational claims. He spoke to news.com.au, explaining that the frequency of disappearances in the Triangle is actually comparable to other parts of the world 'on a percentage basis', according to data from Lloyds of London and the US Coast Guard.

A Channel 5 documentary, Secrets of the Bermuda Triangle, suggests that extreme weather conditions could also play a significant role in these incidents.

Nick Hutchings, a mineral prospector, offered some geological insights: "Bermuda's basically a sea mountain - it's an underwater volcano.

"About 30 million years ago, it was above sea level, but it has since eroded away, leaving just the peak of the volcano.

"We have found core samples containing magnetite, which is the most magnetic naturally occurring material on Earth."

These factors might explain why people get lost, yet the area's ominous reputation remains undiminished, as was the case for a pair of sailors in 2013.

While on a mission with the Ocean Research Project in the Atlantic, they stumbled upon an unmanned ship in the Bermuda Triangle.

Finding the ship deserted, they boarded to check for any possible survivors needing medical help.

One of the researchers, Matt Rutherford, recorded his experience as he boarded the empty 'ghost ship.'

He cautiously remarked, "

This is one awfully abandoned sailboat. Wolfhound from the Irish Yacht Club. I have no idea what's inside, I'm going to go and search around and I hope I don't find any dead bodies or anything crazy like that."

They found nothing and nobody onboard the abandoned ship YouTube / Ocean Research Project

Though apprehensive about what he might find, he was ultimately relieved to discover no bodies on board.

He described the surrealness of the situation: "This is absolutely crazy by the way. 800 miles from Bermuda, 1,500 miles from the US, standing on a very nice Swan 48, in the middle of the ocean," he noted.

Rutherford eventually contacted the boat’s owner, who promised him a reward if he could tow it back to Bermuda.

They managed to tow the boat for about 50 miles, and Rutherford humorously noted, "It's kinda funny, towing a 48ft boat with a 42ft boat. We're doing our best trying to get her to Bermuda."

However, after 47 days at sea and running low on fuel, despite receiving some from a passing freight ship, they were forced to cut the abandoned vessel loose after it tangled with their rudder, risking severe damage.

Online sleuths later figured out that the boat belonged to Alan McGettigan, a skipper from the Royal Irish Yacht Club.

He had been traveling with three crewmates when they were forced to call for rescue by a Greek cargo ship 64 miles north of Bermuda, after encountering 20ft waves and winds of 50 knots (57 mph). McGettigan made the tough call to abandon the ship for their safety, and it was discovered by the sailors nine weeks later.