The body of a sailor who drowned in a boating accident was found on a beach during the windstorm Saturday afternoon.

Keiyia T. Jones, a 33-year-old petty officer second class at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, disappeared in Crescent Harbor Aug. 8 after the boat he was on sank.

His mother, Shawna Jones-Smith, has remained on the island over the last couple of weeks. She vowed not to leave until either her son was found or she was satisfied that every possible effort had been made.

“I can’t say for sure it’s him until I see for myself,” she said. “I have to. I’m his mother. If anyone would know him, it would be me.”

Jones-Smith said she plans to take his body home to Chicago.

A beach-walker discovered his body in the surf along Ice House Road on the Seaplane Base, according to the coroner. There were high waves and a storm surge at the time because of the windstorm.

Bishop said the discovery site was along the same stretch of beach where debris came ashore from the boat that sank. The man’s clothing and physical description matched those of Jones’.

His identify was confirmed by dental comparisons on Sunday, Bishop reported.

The cause of death was saltwater drowning, and the manner of death was determined to be an accident.

Jones and a 24-year-old woman were crabbing in an old 14-foot fiberglass boat when it started taking on water Aug. 8. The woman managed to swim to shore but lost sight of him in the waves.

Jones’ mother and sister, Kiarni Jones, flew in from Chicago after hearing that the Navy and other entities had called off the search for him.

Jones-Smith said she was very upset that the Navy didn’t do more to search for his body. She met with Navy officials but couldn’t convince them to continue the effort; she said they told her there is a type of sonar that could probably find his body but officials weren’t willing to bring it to Whidbey.

The base spokesman, on the other hand, said the search was “pretty extensive” and little else could be done.

After the Coast Guard called off the initial eight-hour search, the Navy’s Northwest Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit conducted a four-day search that included unmanned underwater vehicles and divers, said Mike Welding, NAS Whidbey spokesman.

EOD found the boat in 37 feet of water.

Since arriving on Whidbey, she said she’s been doing everything she could think of to find her son.

“I’ve been writing Congress,” she said. “I’ve been driving people crazy. I’ve been searching with his friends.”