The man who sent himself in a box from Australia to the UK (4 photos)
In 1965, a nineteen-year-old Welshman named Bryan Robson found himself in Melbourne, Australia. He arrived through the British government's "Ten Pound Pom" program, which, for a symbolic 10 pounds, promised young Brits a new life on the other side of the world. Sounds like an adventure, right? 
But for Bryan, it all turned into homesickness. Working on the Victorian Railways turned out to be far from what he'd dreamed of, and his native Cardiff beckoned ever more strongly.
But a plane ticket home cost around 700 pounds—a sum that was simply unaffordable for the guy.
Brian was feeling down, but one day he came across a book that changed his perspective. It told the story of an American soldier who mailed himself in a wooden crate. And then a lightbulb went off in Brian's head: what if he mailed himself home in a crate, like a parcel? It sounded crazy, but that's exactly what he decided to do.
Brian enlisted the help of two friends, Paul and John, fellow British expats who, like him, were trying to find their place in Australia. Together, they crafted a wooden crate measuring just 76 x 66 x 96 centimeters. Imagine: a tiny box in which you could barely move! Brian climbed inside, drawing his knees to his chest, as if in some strange yoga pose. He took a suitcase, a pillow, a flashlight, a Beatles songbook, a small bottle of water, and an empty bottle... well, for his daily needs. He also took a hammer, in case he had to pry the boards out upon arrival.
The friends boarded up the crate, labeled it "Fragile," "Handle With Care," and "This Side Up," and shipped it as cargo on a Qantas flight from Melbourne to London. The plan was 36 hours, and Brian would be home. It seemed simple. 
But, as often happens, life intervened. The direct Qantas flight was overbooked, and the crate containing Brian was left on the runway. At one point, he was flipped upside down, and spent about 22 hours literally standing on his head. He drifted in and out of consciousness, struggling with dizziness and pain. Eventually, the cargo was diverted onto a Pan Am flight, which instead of London, flew to Los Angeles. Brian spent five days—92 to 96 hours—in an unheated cargo hold at altitude. Why so long? Because the flight wasn't direct. The cold penetrated his bones, breathing was difficult, he ran out of water, and dehydration was becoming increasingly severe. "It was a terrifying experience," he later recalled.
After four days of torment, the crate finally landed. But not in London, but in Los Angeles. One of the warehouse workers noticed a flashlight shining through a hole in the crate. He peered through a crack in the board and... met Brian's gaze! "There's a body in there!" " he screamed, jumping back as if he'd seen a ghost. 
Brian Robson in an American Hospital
The American authorities were shocked. Brian was rushed to the hospital, weak, but fortunately without serious injuries. The FBI questioned him, but decided it was more of a ridiculous prank than a crime, and no charges were filed. Pan Am, understanding the situation, sent him back to the UK for free—this time in a normal passenger seat.
Bryan Robson's story made headlines around the world. Decades later, in 2021, he recounted it in his book, "Escape in a Box." But the story didn't end there. Bryan tried to track down Paul and John, the very friends who had helped him in Melbourne. He remembered them chatting about Ireland, sharing stories about their hometowns, but their last names and exact origins had faded from his memory. "I'd love to meet them again," he said. "Even if it's just an email exchange. If they're in the UK or Ireland, when this whole virus thing is over, we could meet in person. But if they're in Australia—alas, I won't be going back there."
Brian traveled all over the world, but he avoided Australia. "I've traveled a lot, been to a lot of countries," he said, "but I've never set foot in Australia." 
