The Unsolved Death of Zigmund Adamski: UFO Abduction or Foul Play?

In the quiet Pennine hills of Yorkshire, a story of intrigue and tragedy unfolded in 1980 with the mysterious death of Zigmund Adamski. Found under circumstances as puzzling as they were unsettling, Adamski’s case has sparked a whirlwind of theories, ranging from a tragic accident to an otherworldly encounter, some even linking it to the infamous Todmorden UFO sighting.

So, what really happened to the 56-year-old coal miner? We’re searching for answers.

Zigmund Adamski was born in Poland, emigrating to the UK after the Second World War. He settled in Tingley, West Yorkshire, working as a coal miner at the Lofthouse Colliery. In 1951, he married his wife Lottie. On 6th June 1980, the 56-year-old left his home to go food shopping. When he didn’t return by that evening, Lottie reported him missing, sparking a five-day search that ended with tragic news.

On 11 June, the missing Yorkshire miner’s body was found over 20 miles from his home in a coal yard in the town of Todmorden. Inexplicably, his body lay atop a 10-foot-high pile of coal, his face said to have been set in a mask of terror. And the peculiarities didn’t end there. According to reports:

• His suit, which he wore without a shirt, was apparently clean despite its sooty surroundings. This led investigators to conclude that he had been placed there rather than climbing up himself.
• As well as his shirt, Adamski’s watch and wallet were missing. None would ever be recovered.
• There were unusual burns on his head, neck, and shoulders. These appeared to have been treated with a strange ointment that forensic scientists were apparently unable to identify.
• His hair had been cut roughly and he had only one-day’s beard growth, the latter indicating that he was likely alive for at least part of the time he had been missing.
• There was no sign of a struggle or any other injuries.
• The coroner concluded that he had died following a heart attack, but that “The question of where he was before he died and what led to his death just could not be answered.”

So, what happened to Zigmund Adamski? And where had he been for five days?

There were several theories as to the circumstances of Zigmund Adamski’s death. Some suggested it had been caused by a natural phenomena, like ball lightning. Another theory posits that Adamski may have suffered an accident or medical emergency, possibly leading to his burns, but failing to account for his disappearance or the strange location of his body. However, the two leading hypotheses revolved around abduction, but were split over the identity of the perpetrators.

Some speculate that Adamski may have been taken by individuals or an entity who held him captive before his death. One newspaper pointed to the KGB. However, no ransom was ever demanded, and there was no evidence of enemies or personal disputes that might explain such an event.

As for the second Zigmund abduction theory, this points the finger directly into outer space, claiming that he was abducted by a UFO. So, what led to this conclusion? For that, it’s necessary to introduce one of the police officers that worked Adamski’s case, Alan Godfrey.

Police officer Alan Godfrey was one of the first to respond to the discovery of Adamski’s body. Months later Godfrey became embroiled in a different sort of mystery: the extraterrestrial kind.

In November 1980, while investigating some runaway cows, Godfrey claimed to have seen a hovering, spinning, brightly lit diamond-shaped craft. He estimated its size at twenty feet wide and fourteen feet high. He later underwent hypnosis, which apparently revealed fragmented memories of an apparent alien abduction. This came to be known as the Godfrey or Todmorden UFO incident.

Somehow, Godfrey’s account of his experiences to the police force was leaked. From there, the media linked Godfrey to the Adamski case, fuelling speculation that would endure for decades.
The combination of unexplained injuries, the mysterious ointment, and Godfrey’s UFO sighting led some to believe that Zigmund Adamski was a victim of an alien abduction gone wrong. Thus, the Todmorden UFO incident became synonymous with the case.

To this day, the death of Zigmund Adamski remains steeped in mystery. Whether he fell victim to foul play, tragic misfortune, or an extraordinary encounter, his story continues to captivate those drawn to unexplained mysteries. The case has cemented Todmorden’s place on the map for UFOlogy enthusiasts, alongside other hotspots like Rendlesham Forest and Roswell.