unilad homepage
unilad homepage
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • World News
    • Crime
    • Health
    • Money
    • Sport
    • Travel
  • Music
  • Technology
  • Film and TV
    • News
    • DC Comics
    • Disney
    • Marvel
    • Netflix
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Flat-Earther’s attempt to sail to the edge of the world ended in disaster after just days
Home>News>Travel
Published 12:44 18 Oct 2023 GMT+1

Flat-Earther’s attempt to sail to the edge of the world ended in disaster after just days

A pair of flat-Earthers were under the impression that Lampedusa was the end of the Earth.

Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover
Featured Image Credit: martinwimmer/Getty / vuk8691/Getty

Topics: News, World News, Science, Travel

Niamh Shackleton
Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton is an experienced journalist for UNILAD, specialising in topics including mental health and showbiz, as well as anything Henry Cavill and cat related. She has previously worked for OK! Magazine, Caters and Kennedy.

X

@niamhshackleton

Advert

Advert

Advert

A couple set out to find the edge of the Earth only to be left disappointed (unsurprisingly).

The pair from Venice, Italy, decided to undergo their voyage during the pandemic, so that alone was a problem in itself.

But, away from ignoring Italy's strict quarantine rules, the unnamed couple sold their car and purchased a boat in a bid to travel to the edge of the Earth - which they believed to be Lampedusa - despite Flat-Earth theories having been debunked on several occasions.

Advert

Lampedusa is one of the Italian Pelagie Islands and is located in the middle of the Mediterranean ocean.

Salvatore Zichichi, a doctor from the maritime health office, went on to find the situation amusing as the Flat-Earth-believing pair used a compass to try and locate the island; something in itself that proves the Earth is in fact round due to the direction the compass points being based on our planet's magnetic field lines.

Zichichi told La Repubblica back in 2020: "The funny thing is that they oriented themselves with the compass, an instrument that works on the basis of terrestrial magnetism, a principle that they, as Flat-Earthers, should reject."

Lampedusa is Italy's southernmost island.
Alessio Bellsia/Getty

Evidently their compass reading skills needed working on as the pair found themselves in Ustica instead.

Upon arriving on the island, they were made to quarantine in Palermo as precaution.

But their first failed efforts didn't stop them from trying again and they attempted to escape quarantine.

They only lasted three hours on the run, however, after Harbor Master's Office went on to retrieve them.

Anyone else getting flashbacks of when you used to 'run away from home' as a kid to be dragged back shortly after?

They gave up eventually and went on to return home by ferry.

While some believe flat-Earthers can't possibly believe the that Earth is genuinely flat, Asheley Landrum, a psychologist from Texas Tech University, chatted to people at a flat-Earth convention in Denver and said they were 'sincere'.

Some people genuinely believe the Earth is flat.
martinwimmer/Getty

"If they were [trolling], they are very good actors,” she said, as per Physics World.

"We talked to more than 90 members of the Flat-Earth community and they’re all very sincere in their beliefs."

Flat-Earthers' misguided beliefs aren't down to a lack of education though, but down to not being able to trust institutions and authorities.

Landrum explained: "It’s not really an education thing - it really is about distrusting authorities and institutions.

"[It] seems to be based on both a conspiracy mentality and a deeply held belief that looks a lot like religiosity but isn’t necessarily specifically tied to a religion."

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
10 hours ago
11 hours ago
  • Getty stock
    9 hours ago

    Experts explain how ‘microdosing’ GLP-1 weight loss drugs could reduce effectiveness

    According to the medical experts, the method isn't FDA-approved and can have a different effect than intended

    News
  • Getty Stock Photo
    9 hours ago

    Travelers face fines of $300 for wearing swimsuits in European hotspot over little-known beach law

    A travel expert has urged tourists to check local guidance before traveling

    News
  • Getty
    10 hours ago

    FIFA president praises Argentina's 'professionalism' in 'leaked' letter after brawl in World Cup loss

    It comes after FIFA confirmed they were investigating the 'disgusting' brawl that occurred after the final

    News
  • Universal Pictures
    11 hours ago

    The Odyssey viewers all have the same complaint about Christopher Nolan's new movie

    While movie-goers shared the same complaint, they all agreed that The Odyssey is 'absolutely amazing'

    Film & TV
  • Flat Earther speaks out on beliefs now after realizing he was wrong while on trip to Antarctica to prove the Earth isn’t round
  • Scientists issue chilling warning to how the world could possibly end and give a timeframe
  • Man who has been to every country in the world reveals how he avoided prison in North Korea
  • Frankie Muniz crashes NASCAR truck just days after Malcolm in the Middle release