FACT CHECK: No, A Ship From the 1700’s Didn’t Wash Ashore During Hurricane Milton
A Facebook post claims that a ghost ship from the 1700’s was washed onto a Florida beach in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.
Verdict: False
This post originated from a satire news outlet.
Fact Check:
Hurricane Milton ravaged the coast of Western Florida Oct. 9, causing billions of dollars worth of damage and killed hundreds. Debris from the storms can still be seen waiting to be cleaned up, causing logistical problems throughout Florida and the Carolinas.
We’re working together to clean up Hillsborough County! 💪
With an estimated 5 million cubic yards of debris across our community, we continue to bring in equipment to expedite pick up. Learn more about how to help speed up this clean up, here: https://t.co/jl5hn6X5ET pic.twitter.com/vAZoslE3lm
— Hillsborough County (@HillsboroughFL) October 18, 2024
The Facebook post suggests a fully intact “ghost ship” from the 1700’s was washed up onto a beach in St. Augustine, FL, a town about 40 miles south of Jacksonville.
This is false, however. There is no evidence of this happening, and the official X feed of the city of St. Augustine makes no mention of it. (RELATED: Does This Video Show A Flooded Highway in Tampa?)
The post originated from a Facebook page called “Casper Planet,” which claims to deliver “snews.” In their bio, they say “Did we say this is satire?,” implying that no information from them should be taken seriously.
Comments under the misleading “photo” point out that the ship seen is actually “the Flying Dutchman,” a prop ship that was used in Disney’s hit series “Pirates of the Caribbean.” It used to be visible to guests on Disney branded cruise ships in the Bahamas until 2010.
Imagine gazing out to sea from your Disney Cruise Line adventure and seeing an actual ghost ship. The Flying Dutchman from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies once prowled the shores of Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. Now where’s the Davy Jones meet-and-greet? pic.twitter.com/GSuBhZDTUD
— Parkeology (@Parkeology) February 3, 2024
This story was first fact-checked by Snopes.
