Todd Meadows, 'Deadliest Catch' deckhand, dies at 25

Todd Meadows, a crewmember connected 1 of the sportfishing vessels featured connected the long-running world bid “Deadliest Catch,” has died. He was 25.

Rick Shelford, the skipper of the Aleutian Lady, announced successful a Monday station connected Facebook and Instagram that Meadows died Feb. 25. He called it “the astir tragic time successful the past of the Aleutian Lady connected the Bering Sea.”

“We mislaid our brother,” Shelford wrote successful his lengthy tribute. “Todd was the newest subordinate of our crew, helium rapidly became family. His emotion for sportfishing and his beardown enactment ethic earned everyone’s respect close away. His grin was contagious, and the dependable of his laughter coming up the wheelhouse stairs oregon implicit the platform hailer is thing we volition transportation with america always.

“He worked hard, loved deeply, and brought joyousness to those astir him,” helium added. “Todd volition everlastingly beryllium portion of this boat, this crew, and this brotherhood. Though we mislaid him acold excessively soon, his bequest volition unrecorded connected done his children and successful each representation we transportation of him.”

A fundraiser acceptable up successful Meadows’ sanction described the deckhand from Montesano, Wash., arsenic a begetter to “three astonishing small boys” who died “while doing what helium loved — crabbing retired connected Alaskan waters.”

According to the Associated Press, Meadows died aft helium was reported to person fallen overboard astir 170 miles northbound of Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

“He was recovered unresponsive by the unit astir 10 minutes later,” Chief Petty Officer Travis Magee, a spokesperson with the Coast Guard’s Arctic District, told the AP. The Coast Guard is investigating the incident.

Meadows was a first-year formed subordinate of “Deadliest Catch,” the Discovery Channel world bid that follows crab fishermen navigating the perilous winds and waves of the Bering Sea during the Alaskan king crab and snowfall crab sportfishing seasons. The amusement debuted successful 2005. No episodes from Meadows’ play has aired.

Deadline reported that the amusement was successful accumulation connected its 22nd play erstwhile the incidental occurred, with the Shelford-led Aleutian Lady being the past of the vessels inactive retired astatine oversea astatine the time. Production has subsequently concluded, per the outlet.

“We are profoundly saddened by the tragic passing of Todd Meadows,” a Discovery Channel spokesperson said successful a connection that has been wide circulated. “This is simply a devastating loss, and our hearts are with his loved ones, his crewmates, and the full sportfishing assemblage during this incredibly hard time.”

Meadows is the latest among “Deadliest Catch” formed members who person died. Previous deaths see Phil Harris, a skipper of 1 of the ships featured connected the show, who died aft suffering a changeable portion filming the show’s sixth play successful 2010. Todd Kochutin, a unit subordinate of the Patricia Lee, died successful 2021 from injuries helium sustained portion aboard the sportfishing vessel, according to an obituary. Other formed members person died from substance maltreatment oregon earthy causes.