A family's unusual discovery in an Airbnb rental, which initially sparked a viral sensation on social media, has been resolved with the explanation that a local photographer included an old family photo as part of the home's decor.
Sisters Libby and Aubrey Birrell were staying at an Airbnb in Oceanside, San Diego, with approximately 30 relatives in early July to celebrate their grandfather's 80th birthday. They reported feeling “creeped out” and confused when they spotted a framed beach photograph hanging on the wall that featured what appeared to be members of their own family.
"The moment we saw it, we made everyone come up and look, and they were all in awe," Aubrey Birrell told Fox News Digital. "I started FaceTiming my friends because they all know my family. They were in shock, too. It was crazy."
Aubrey Birrell, 26, described the initial feeling as "really strange" and "a little eerie." The sisters soon inquired with the Airbnb host about the photograph.
The host explained that the home's decorator was a San Diego-based photographer who specializes in aerial beach photography and often uses enlarged prints as artwork for vacation rentals. The family members recognized in the photo were identified by Aubrey Birrell as her father, her sister Libby, and her brother Brady, appearing as they did about 10 years prior.
"We have those swimsuits," Libby Birrell, 19, stated in a viral video, confirming the family's belief that the photo was taken approximately a decade ago at either Mission Beach or Imperial Beach during a family trip for her brother's soccer tournament.
"She must have captured us when we were there," Aubrey Birrell said of the photographer.
The mystery's resolution also brought to light unconfirmed claims from social media users who suggested they had seen similar beach photographs in other vacation rentals and homes in different states. These claims, while unverified, contributed to the unsettling and surreal nature of the discovery for some.
Commenters on TikTok had joked that the incident resembled a scene from a horror movie, with some suggesting the sisters should leave the rental. Others shared comparable experiences of recognizing themselves or family members in unexpected places, such as store displays or promotional materials in distant locations.
The Airbnb host reportedly offered the family a copy of the beach print. The sisters have since expressed amusement at the incident. "I feel all right with it. I was telling [our host] that if we could get a print from the photographer, that would be so cool, just so we could always remember it. I think it's fun," Aubrey Birrell commented. She added that anyone else staying at the rental and seeing the video could look for the picture.