Shawn Pomrenke’s Injury on Bering Sea Gold: Inside the Myrtle Irene Accident That Stopped Production

NOME, ALASKA — In a dramatic moment captured on Bering Sea Gold, veteran gold miner and television personality Shawn Pomrenke sustained a serious leg injury while preparing his dredge, the Myrtle Irene, for the mining season. The incident, featured in Season 10, Episode 5—which first aired on April 27, 2018 though filmed earlier—unfolded amid a high-stakes push to get operations underway.

Mounting Pressure and Financial Strain

At the time of the accident, Pomrenke was under considerable financial stress. According to the episode, he faced over $1 million in debt on the Tomc claim, $1.5 million on his inland mine, and was heavily invested in upgrades to the Myrtle Irene, which had already exceeded its initial $350,000 estimate. With deadlines looming and budgets stretched thin, the crew worked to finalize a series of upgrades to the dredge.

Modifications included:

• A lowered wash plant for better operator visibility
• A revamped water pressure system to improve gold extraction
• A dual sluice box setup aimed at capturing finer gold particles

The Incident

While assisting with generator setup and final systems checks, Pomrenke lost his footing and fell into the sluice box, slashing his leg on the metal structure. The fall prompted immediate concern from the crew.

“Yeah. My leg… holy cow,” Pomrenke said after falling into the sluice box.

Despite visible bleeding and complaints of pain in his leg and wrist, Pomrenke initially resisted calls to seek medical attention. However, the wound ultimately required emergency care.

Emergency Treatment and Rapid Return

Pomrenke was transported to a nearby hospital, where he received four stitches to close the gash. Speaking from the emergency room, he expressed frustration over the setback:

“Not really what I need right now. We’re running out of time. We’re running out of money. And then now this is going to slow me down. Won’t stop me, but it’s definitely going to slow me down.”

True to form, the miner returned to work shortly after treatment, downplaying the injury and refocusing on launching the dredge. He quipped about his hospital bracelet and emphasized the urgency of the mission:

“I’m not going to let a little fall and a few stitches stop me. I’m going to push, get it done. Stitches and all.”

Pushing Forward

Back on site, Pomrenke and his crew resumed systems testing, starting with the smaller of two shakers. To their relief, it started without issue—a critical win for the day.

“Yeah, when that thing turned over and started I got…  I got a goosebump,” Pomrenke said.

As final systems came online, the team prepared to prime the water pumps and test the larger components, all while monitoring Pomrenke’s recovery.

A Risk-Filled Profession

The accident underscores the physical hazards inherent in gold mining—onshore and off. While Bering Sea Gold often highlights dangers underwater, Pomrenke’s fall serves as a reminder that even routine tasks can turn perilous in such an environment.

Despite the setback, the seasoned miner demonstrated why he remains a central figure in Nome’s gold rush narrative. With millions on the line, a few stitches were just a temporary detour.

A Violent Past: Viewers Recall Earlier Stabbing Incident

The recent injury also reignited online discussion surrounding a lesser-known incident from Pomrenke’s past. In a thread on the r/BeringSeaGold subreddit, fans recalled an earlier event where Pomrenke was reportedly stabbed in a bar fight—an altercation believed to have taken place during or prior to Season 1 of the show.

According to multiple user accounts:

“It was the first ever episode. Shawn said people hated, envied him because he became the gold king of Nome… So he got shanked in the back outside the pub.” — u/cenkozan

Other users corroborated the event, describing it as the result of local tensions and Pomrenke’s rising notoriety within Nome’s gold mining scene. No formal charges or arrests appear to have been confirmed publicly.

While Discovery Channel has not formally revisited the stabbing in recent seasons, the incident remains part of Pomrenke’s early mythology—underscoring the volatility of both the job and the environment it takes place in.