In the remote coastal village of Mekoryuk, Alaska, the community was struck with worry when 72-year-old Samuel Shavings was reported missing on May 26, 2025. Mr. Shavings, along with two other men, was aboard a 22- to 24-foot Ocean Pro skiff when it was overcome by rough waters and sank off the coast of Nunivak Island. One of the men managed to swim to the shore, but Mr. Shavings and 65-year-old Albert Williams were lost to the turbulent sea.
The news prompted an immediate and extensive search effort, with local boats from Mekoryuk combing the waters overnight with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard.
The search for the two missing men intensified the following day, May 27, as the Rescue Coordination Center dispatched a C-130 aircraft to aid in the search, and the U.S. Coast Guard directed a vessel to the area. Tragically, the search took a somber turn on May 28, when the remains of Albert Williams were located by a local search party on the east side of Nunivak Island, approximately 20 miles from Mekoryuk. Despite the exhaustive efforts by both air and sea, there was no sign of Mr. Shavings, and eventually, the active search for him was suspended.
For nearly three months, the fate of Samuel Shavings remained unknown. Then, on August 22, 2025, beachcombers discovered human remains that had washed ashore on a beach near Nome, a considerable distance from where the boat had capsized. Due to the condition of the remains, the identity was not immediately apparent. The body was sent to the State Medical Examiner's Office for autopsy and identification. On August 28, 2025, Alaska State Troopers confirmed that the remains were positively identified as those of Samuel Shavings. This confirmation brought a sorrowful conclusion to the search that began in the frigid waters off Mekoryuk. The case, which began as a desperate search for a missing person, ended with the heartbreaking discovery of a beloved community member who had been lost to the sea.Last Seen: May 26, 2025
