Couple left to die in shark-infested waters – their diary entries are chilling

But still their bodies were not found.

‘Ready to die’

As investigators dug deeper into the disappearance of Tom and Eileen, they uncovered something that added a disturbing new layer to the mystery. Hidden inside the couple’s hostel room in Cairns, Queensland, were their personal diaries – revealing entries that shocked authorities.

In a journal entry written six months before the trip, Tom penned a chilling reflection: “I feel as though my life is complete and I’m ready to die. As far as I can tell, from here my life can only get worse. It has peaked and it’s all downhill from here until my funeral.”

And, just 16 days before their disappearance, Eileen wrote of her growing concern about Tom’s mental state: “Tom hopes to die a quick and fairly painly [painless] death and he hopes it happens soon. Tom’s not suicidal, but he’s got a death wish that could lead him to what he desires, and I could get caught in that.”

In the aftermath, theories began to swirl – some even speculating that the couple had staged their vanishing act to start a new life. But those theories quickly lost credibility. Their bank accounts were never accessed, and no claims were ever made on their life insurance policies.

Despite the speculation, there was no financial trail, no sightings, and no evidence to support the idea that they had deliberately disappeared. All signs continued to point to a tragic accident in Open Water.