Look at this pic...the tiny dot in the eye is (was?) Wake Island.
http://www.easternuswx.com/bb/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=54974
What a magnificent storm! If someone really did stay behind, I'd have to say he drowned. There had to be 30-50 feet of water over the island when the eyewall hit.
I dunno how much to believe it. That's an unsourced statement on a weather forum and he didn't provide any support for it, even when asked.
I think it would be big news if the media heard that one person remained on island that was supposed to be completely submerged. So, if it's true, the media doesn't know anything about it.
But how would anyone else know?