Last year, in the Canadian province of British Columbia, a human foot washed up on shore, housed in a running shoe.

That in itself isn’t that remarkable, but when you consider that it was the 14th foot to wash up since 2007, all of which have been inside a running shoe, people are going to start to ask questions.

Well, it’s happened again with number 15, and Canadian coroners are now asking for help in identifying the person whose foot was found.

Over to Sky News:

The foot, believed to be male, was in a light grey Nike Free RN trainer with a black Nike swoosh logo and white base, white laces and a blue sock.

But authorities have not been able to establish who the person is after the limb was discovered on the British Columbia shoreline…

The shoe is a men’s US size 9.5 with an OrthoLite insert. It was manufactured between 1 Feb and 17 April 2017 and appeared to be in relatively new condition…

Using DNA evidence, the BCCS [British Columbia Coroners Service] has determined the latest foot is that a man’s but they have not been able to match it with any of the DNA profiles on file for missing persons.

Of the 15 feet so far, 10 have been identified, belonging to people who have either died accidentally or taken their own lives.

Here’s a little overview – click the image for a larger version:

Whilst all sorts of conspiracy theories exist, Andy Watson, a BCCS spokesperson, remains level-headed:

He insisted the bizarre trend is not linked to “any sort of suspicious circumstance” and isn’t “cause for panic”.

The mystery of where the feet have come from has prompted much lurid speculation.

Theories have included organised crime murders, remnants from bodies that have floated across the Pacific Ocean following the 2004 tsunami and a serial killer with a particularly twisted signature.

But, according to Watson, feet are often the part of human remains that are found, as they easily separate from the body and remain afloat thanks to the foam shoe sole.

Say what you want, Watson, but if I come across a human foot I’m running for the hills.

[source:skynews]