Ep 7. The Body on Somerton Beach

In "History's Greatest Mysteries" season 3 episode 7, titled "The Body on Somerton Beach," viewers are taken on a journey to one of Australia's biggest unsolved mysteries. The episode focuses on the discovery of an unidentified body on Somerton Beach in Adelaide, South Australia, in December 1948, whose true identity and cause of death remain a mystery to this day.

The episode begins with the story of a man named John Bain Lyons, who was out for a stroll with his wife along the Somerton Beach when he came across the body of a man lying on the sand. Lyons, who was pleasant with the man earlier, initially assumed he was fast asleep, but when he returned later in the day, he discovered that the man was still lying there, motionless, and soon realized that he was dead. The man appeared to be fit and healthy, but the way his legs were positioned were unnatural.

The episode delves into the peculiar circumstances surrounding the investigation of the case, including the discovery of a tiny piece of paper found in the pocket of the man's trousers that contained the words "Tamám Shud" or "ended" in Persian. Investigators were perplexed and couldn't find anything that linked the man to the beach, and even the label on his clothes were cut off, making it impossible to trace him. The episode also recounts the discovery of a cryptic code found sewn into the lining of the dead man's coat, which only deepened the mystery.

The producers of the show have included interviews with some of the most respected experts and investigators in the country, who offer their theories about the case. An expert on toxicology explains how the man could have been poisoned, perhaps with a rare poison that could have left no traces in his blood and tissues. Other specialists offer their opinion that the code may have been a lover's message gone wrong or perhaps a message passed between spies.

The program uses a combination of re-enactments, photographs and archive footage, interviews with experts, and testimony from people who had some involvement in the investigation to explore all the aspects of the case to the fullest. The documentary also includes interviews with the dead man's relatives, who are still searching for the truth about their loved one's demise.

There's a sense of deep mystery and intrigue surrounding this case, and the episode offers viewers an in-depth insight into some of the peculiarities and unanswered questions surrounding the death of the mysterious man. The episode leaves audiences with numerous questions, asking for their own theories about the case. In conclusion, "History's Greatest Mysteries" season 3 episode 7, "The Body on Somerton Beach," is a riveting and chilling re-visitation of one of the most perplexing and intriguing mysteries of the last century.