Amazing History

Hugh Williams, the resilient survivor of Menai Strait 

Menai Strait west of Britannia Bridge

The Menai Strait has recorded one of the oddest coincidences within a period of 200 years.  Menai Strait is a narrow stretch of shallow tidal water about 25 km long, which separates the island of Anglesey from the mainland of Wales. During the 200 years in question, three ships sank in the same area and on the same day of the month. It may be true that this is mere coincidence. But is it also a mere coincidence that Hugh Williams was the sole survivor during each of these ship-wrecks? These three Menai Strait ship accidents appear to be beyond mere coincidence.

The first ship in this amazing coincidence sank in the Menai Strait on 5th December 1664. The only survivor of the 81 people on board was a man named Hugh Williams. Then on 5th December 1785, 121 years later, another ship carrying 60 passengers sank in the same area. The only survivor was again a man named Hugh Williams. The Menai Strait played host to another ship tragedy 75 years later. On 5th December 1860, a third ship sank in the Menai Strait. It was a small passenger vessel carrying 25 people .The only survivor of the 25 people on board was yet again a passenger named Hugh Williams! Will another Hugh Williams survive a fourth Menai Strait ship-wreck? Let's wait and see.