Ultimate Survival Alaska Contestant Killed

Alaska State Troopers received word of the shooting at 3:06 p.m. at Gojdics’ home on the Old Elliott Highway behind the Silver Gulch Brewery. Gojdics was “suffering from apparent gunshot wounds” when troopers arrived. He was pronounced dead after being transported to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, according to a troopers news release. 

The case is under investigation as a homicide, said trooper spokesman Tim Despain. He said Monday afternoon that he doesn’t know if there are any suspects in Gojdics’ killing. Gojdics’ body is being sent to the State Medical Examiner. 

Originally from upstate New York, Gojdics had no family in Fairbanks but many friends, according to his friend, Janine Carlson. Carlson knew Gojdics for about 12 years and said he was known for his wide-ranging interest in building things, from skyscrapers in New York to canoes and rafts in Alaska. People in Fox sometimes saw him driving a Russian Ural motorcycle with a sidecar or a carriage drawn by horses that shod himself. He loved traveling and people from other countries, and he spent winters in South America as much as he could, Carlson said.

“Everyone was his friend and he met someone everywhere,” she said.  

National Geographic Channel’s website says he had worked as a fisherman, horse wrangler, blacksmith, forest service firefighter, river guide and wilderness guide.