A paranormal investigator unveils the story of a local "phantom hitchhiker" haunting Coastal Road near Southport.
The town of Southport is a much-loved destination for those seeking an escape from the hustle and bustle of city centres, boasting miles of beautiful and expansive beaches. But its coastline might harbour a presence far more sinister than your typical beach-goer.
An incident dating back from 1983 recounts the chilling sighting of a ‘road ghost’ on Coastal Road between Ainsdale and Southport in Merseyside. Dr Rob Gandy, a Visiting Professor at the Liverpool Business School at Liverpool John Moores University, has unveiled this story as part of his side project documenting paranormal encounters on UK roads.
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He explained encounters with so-called “phantom hitchhikers” are amongst the most terrifying because “the eyewitness genuinely thought they were talking to a real person”. On a dark and stormy night, the 27-year-old eyewitness known as Mr M was driving on Coastal Road when he spotted a lone man standing on the side. He stopped to offer the man a lift and shelter from the heavy rain.
According to Mr M, the mysterious hitchhiker was wearing a parka coat and wasn’t carrying any bags. He was also described as being in his mid-30s, with dark eyes and stubble on his face. Dr Gandy said: "Although his behaviour was normal and calm, he had a troubled expression which Mr M put down to him being out in such bad weather."
That’s when the hitchhiker, who sat on the passenger’s side of the car, spoke to Mr M with "a local Southport accent", asking whether his girlfriend could come with him. Mr M accepted, and the man then stepped out of the car, went to its back, and seemingly vanished into thin air.
Dr Gandy said: "It took about 20 seconds for Mr M to realise that the man had completely disappeared and that there was no sign of any girlfriend. The road at that point was edged with high sandhills and there was quite simply nowhere the man could have gone."
The Southport ghost sighting made it into Dr Gandy’s Top Six of the scariest road ghost encounters he’s ever come across.
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