Hawai‘i Island police are investigating the apparent drowning of 32-year-old Shayne Fields originally from East Hartford, Connecticut.  Fields 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 Pāhoa. 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 Hawaiʻi Fire Department conducted a search and the swimmer could not be located.  On the morning of Monday, August 30, 2021 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 later that afternoon and positive identification was subsequently made.

An autopsy will be conducted Tuesday, August, 31,2021 to determine the exact cause of death. Foul play is not suspected at this time.