The Piano Man Mystery

I feel sorry for this guy, but what a great mystery:

Doctors say identity of 'Piano Man' may never be known

"The so-called "Piano Man", a tall blonde-haired stranger thought to be in his 20s or early 30s, was found on April 7 on the beach at Minster, on the south coast of England, soaking wet but fully dressed in a black suit and tie, with no clue as to his origin.

He has not spoken since and has not responded to written appeals while being kept under observation in the psychiatric hospital.

But he has fascinated social workers, the British media and the general public over his one means of communication: playing classical piano music.

When given a pencil and paper by hospital staff, he drew a grand piano -- and then, when shown a piano at the hospital chapel, he impressed his carers with a remarkable virtuoso performance."

They have no idea who he is, where he came from or where his relatives might be. No one has come forward to identify him and he is unable to speak to the doctors. He obviously has to have a story, but what could it be?

1) Did he fall off a cruise ship or other boat where he was a guest or entertainer?

2) Did he get drunk at a soiree and go for a swim, fully clothed?

What's interesting to speculate is whether his piano-playing ability has any real relationship to the fact that he was dressed in a tux - he could have been just a guest at a party, but was incidentally also a talented pianist. The one could have nothing to do with the other.

Who knows. He could even be faking amnesia or catatonia or whatever he has. Or the memories of a horrible trauma could be repressed. I hope he recovers, for his own sake and the sake of his loved ones, but I also hope the mystery is someday solved...