In a shocking case that has baffled both family and authorities, 21-year-old Pawel Martyniak vanished in November 2021 in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. His disappearance followed a violent assault on his mother and sister. Over 15 months later, his feet were discovered washed up on two different beaches — one on Winterton Beach in Norfolk, the other on a Swedish shore, hundreds of miles away.
DNA Confirms Identity But Cause of Death Unknown
DNA tests confirmed both feet belonged to Martyniak, but a Norfolk Crown Court inquest could not determine how he died. Coroner Yvonne Blake expressed deep sympathy to the family, saying, “I can’t even imagine what it feels like. I’m sorry you’ve had to go through all this as we.”
Martyniak was last caught on doorbell camera footage on November 30th, 2021, walking away from his home in Gorleston. Reports reveal he had stopped taking medication for severe depression five months earlier — without his doctor’s knowledge.
Family Blames Mental Health Neglect
The grieving family hit out at health services, accusing them of neglect and mismanagement. They say Martyniak didn’t get the support he desperately needed in the months before his disappearance.
- Martyniak had sought help from a gender clinic after starting to identify as female.
- This identity exploration coincided with his depression worsening and stopping medication.
- GP Dr Sunder Gopaul told the inquest he was unaware the young man had quit his meds and would have acted immediately if he had known.
The case raises troubling questions about mental health care systems failing to monitor vulnerable patients and prevent medication dropouts.
A Troubled Mind and Dark Days Before Vanishing
Martyniak had a history of mental health struggles. He dropped out of the University of Essex in 2020, a turning point marked by deepening psychological distress. Social worker Ian Steward-Anderson described him as “a very thoughtful, sensitive young man” who was openly ruminating on his failings and battling psychotic symptoms.
The overlap of severe depression, psychosis, and identity challenges created a storm of mental turmoil. The violent assault on family members just before he disappeared showed his mental health was dangerously deteriorating.
Sea Mystery: How Did His Feet End Up So Far Apart?
Experts say ocean currents can transport body parts across vast stretches. One of Martyniak’s feet made it all the way to Sweden, while the other was found on a Norfolk beach, still wearing a trainer and socks. This grim discovery is a rare maritime mystery — and a chilling clue to his fate.
With only his feet found, the exact cause and circumstances of his death remain unknown. Could it have been suicide, an accident, or something more sinister? The coroner said the evidence is inconclusive.
Calls for Review of Mental Health Services
The family’s heartbreaking story casts a harsh spotlight on gaps in mental health provision for young adults. Demand for gender identity clinics is high, and support systems for students with mental illness fall short. Martyniak’s death is a grim reminder of what can happen when vulnerable people slip through the cracks.
