Jimmy Gojdics aka Jimmy Gaydos, an ex-Ultimate Survival Alaska contestant, was shot dead near his home in Fairbanks, Alaska. According to Alaska State Troopers, Gojdics, who was on Season 2 of National Geographic Channel’s Ultimate Survival Alaska, was found outside of his home with several gunshot wounds and died on his way to a local hospital.
The headline “Ultimate Survival Alaska Jimmy Gojdics Shot Dead” has an entire community mourning and has sparked a debate on gun control.
Jimmy Gojdics of Ultimate Survival Alaska died after getting shot multiple times. In a brief statement issued by Alaska State Troopers, it was revealed that over the weekend, Jimmy Gojdics, aka Jimmy Gaydos, was found lying in front of his home in Old Elliot Highway in Fairbanks.
Alaska authorities say that Mr. Gojdics was “suffering from apparent gunshot wounds” and died as he was being transported to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. The troopers have revealed that they were called to the home around 3 p.m. on Sunday after someone heard shooting at Gojdics’ residence.
They have ruled the death of the reality star and river and wilderness guide as a homicide. According to Trooper spokesman Tim Despain, Gojdics’ body has been sent to the State Medical Examiner for an autopsy.
Jimmy Gojdics, 69, was a competitor in National Geographic’s reality show Ultimate Survival Alaska Season 2. Here is the premise of the show:
“Ultimate Survival Alaska focuses on survivalist men and women who are dropped off in the Alaskan wilderness where they compete with each other in various wilderness races. The survivalists are dropped off by aircraft in the Alaskan wilderness where they compete in races through Alaska’s unpredictable weather, barren landscapes, and hostile predators.”
Gojdics, who had worked as a fisherman, horse wrangler, blacksmith, forest service firefighter, joined the Woodsmen Team along with Yote Robertson and Tina “Timber Tina” Scheer. The Woodsmen Team was eliminated after four episodes because of Jimmy Gojdics’ injury.
National Geographic Channel spokesman Chad Sandhas said:
“Jimmy Gojdics appeared last year on the second season of the reality show, but sustained an injury that made it impossible for his team to continue in the competition. We were saddened to learn of Mr. Gaydos’s untimely passing and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this difficult time.”
Gojdics’ friend, Janine Carlson, told the Daily News-Miner:
“Everyone was his friend and he met someone everywhere.”
Carlson also revealed that Gojdics, who was from New York, moved to Alaska over 12 years ago, where he became a local celebrity due to his numerous passions from canoeing, riding his motorcycle with a sidecar to carriage drawn by horses.
What are your thoughts on the Ultimate Survival Alaska contestant?
