Hawai‘i Island police are investigating the apparent drowning of a Mountain View man. The victim is identified as 32-year-old Shayne Fields, originally from East Hartford, Connecticut, who had been living in Mountain View for several months.
On Sunday, August 29, 2021, Puna patrol officers responded to a report of a swimmer in distress off of Old Government Beach Road in Pahoa. Officers learned that around 4:00 p.m. three friends hiked to a coastal area off of Old Government Beach Road and, once there they jumped off of a cliff into the water to swim. Two parties were able to make it back to shore, however, one swimmer had difficulty, and attempts to assist him by those at the beach were unsuccessful.
The Hawaii Fire Department conducted a search and the swimmer could not be located. At about 10:40 a.m. on Monday, August 30, fire department personnel located a body in the water, brought the victim to shore, and transported him to Hilo Medical Center. Fields was officially pronounced dead at 1:37 p.m. today and positive identification was subsequently made.
An autopsy will be conducted Tuesday, August, 31, to determine the exact cause of death. Foul play is not suspected at this time.