The Vanishing of a Seal Hunter: The Mysterious Disappearance of Tom John in Alaska's Bering Sea

A Hunter's Final Journey

On March 26, 2017, Tom John, a 59-year-old Yup’ik seal hunter from Newtok, Alaska, embarked on what was meant to be a routine hunting trip. Departing at 10:00 a.m., he used his snowmobile to tow a red and yellow fiberglass single-person kayak to the edge of the sea ice. This marked a departure from his usual practice of using a traditional canvas-covered wooden kayak, a method he had learned from his father and used throughout his life.

The Discovery of Abandoned Equipment

Later that day, searchers found John's snowmobile and other equipment near a seal carcass on the edge of the ice, approximately 18 miles west of Newtok. Despite the discovery of his gear, there was no sign of John or his kayak. The conditions that day were favorable—sunny with clear and calm waters—making his disappearance all the more perplexing.

An Extensive Search Effort

The search for Tom John was extensive and involved multiple agencies and community volunteers. Aircrews from Kodiak and the Civil Air Patrol conducted over 41 hours of aerial searches along the shorelines from Nunivak Island to northwest of Hazen Bay. Ground searchers from Newtok and neighboring villages used snowmobiles and skiffs to comb the area. Despite these efforts, no trace of John or his kayak was found.

Community Resilience and Hope

The community's response to John's disappearance was marked by resilience and hope. Volunteers from Tununak, Nightmute, and Newtok established a search camp near the location where John's equipment was found. They conducted daily searches, using hooks, poles, and sonar to probe the ocean depths. John Andy, Newtok's Search and Rescue Coordinator and a friend of John, emphasized the community's commitment to finding him, stating that they would continue searching until directed otherwise by John's family. ...Read More

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