HPD Investigates Apparent Drowning in Pāhoa

Authorities are investigating the apparent drowning of a Mountain View man over the weekend.

On Sunday, Aug. 29, Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Puna patrol officers responded to a report of a swimmer in distress off of Old Government Beach Road in Pāhoa.

According to HPD officials, officers learned that at around 4 p.m., three friends, one of whom was 32-year-old Shayne Fields, hiked to a coastal area off of Old Government Beach Road and jumped off a cliff into the water to swim.

Two of the individuals were able to make it back to shore, however, Fields reportedly had difficulty and attempts to assist him by those at the beach were unsuccessful.

The Hawaiʻi Fire Department conducted a search and the swimmer could not be located. At about 10:40 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 30, HFD 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. Monday. The 32-year-old, originally from East Hartford, Connecticut, had been living in Mountain View for several months.

An autopsy will be conducted Tuesday, Aug. 31, to determine the exact cause of death. Foul play is not suspected at this time.