At the age of just 25, one of the ‘newest members of the crew’ on Deadliest Catch has died.
Todd Meadows is said to have been filming for the Discovery Channel reality series when he passed away last week.
Captain Rick Shelford shared a lengthy tribute on Facebook on Monday (2 March) to share that the deckhand had died on 25 February.
He was working on the fishing vessel Aleutian Lady for the long-running show’s 22nd series, fishing for crabs on the Bering Sea.
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Details of the nature of Meadows’ death are unclear at the moment, and the Captain called it the ‘most tragic day in the history of the Aleutian Lady'.
It’s reported by Deadline that production has since ended, with the popular TV show being at the end of its production cycle when his death occurred.
"We lost our brother, Todd Meadows,” Captain Shelford wrote on Facebook. "Todd was the newest member of our crew, he quickly became family. His love for fishing and his strong work ethic earned everyone’s respect right away.
"His smile was contagious, and the sound of his laughter coming up the wheelhouse stairs or over the deck hailer is something we will carry with us always."
Todd had a wife and three kids, and Shelford wrote that his love for them and his life was ‘evident in everything he did’.
“He worked hard, loved deeply, and brought joy to those around him,” the captain continued. “Right now, our hearts are broken in a way that words can’t fully express.
“We ask that you lift Todd’s children and family in prayer and keep them in your thoughts as they face the days ahead without him.
“Todd will forever be part of this boat, this crew, and this brotherhood. Though we lost him far too soon, his legacy will live on through his children and in every memory we carry of him.
“Rest easy brother, till we meet again.”
The post featured a number of pictures of Meadows on the job, with a GoFundMe also launched for his family.
“We are heartbroken to share the sudden passing of Todd Morgan Meadows, a beloved 25-year-old father, son, brother and friend, who left us far too soon while doing what he loved — crabbing out on Alaskan waters,” the page reads.
"He was a determined dad to three amazing little boys who were his entire world. Everything he did was for them — their smiles, their futures, and the memories they will carry with them."
The fundraiser is aiming to raise $16,000 to support his family and assist with funeral expenses.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Todd Meadows," a Discovery Channel spokesperson said.
"This is a devastating loss, and our hearts are with his loved ones, his crewmates, and the entire fishing community during this incredibly difficult time."
Meadows isn't the first person from Deadliest Catch to have died during filming.
In 2019, a boat set to appear on Deadliest Catch: Dungeon Cove capsized in Oregon, resulting in the deaths of three fishermen, Joshua Porter, James Lacy, and Stephen Biernacki.
According to the Oregon State Police, the fishermen had asked the US Coast Guard for assistance in crossing the Yaquina Bay bar shortly before 10pm due to 'high seas'.
Afterwards, the boat 'had capsized with three people onboard', with USCG Pacific Northwest's X page saying they were up against '12 to 14-foot seas'.
Topics: Fishing, TV and Film
Jess Battison