Deadliest Catch star Todd Meadows died at age 25 while working as a deckhand on the Aleutian Lady fishing vessel, which has been featured on the Discovery Channel show.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Todd Meadows,” a spokesperson for the network told TMZ on March 2. “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.”
A GoFundMe was launched to raise money in the wake of Meadows’ death. The fundraiser, which referred to the late reality star as someone who loved “crabbing out on Alaskan waters,” has a goal of $45,000.
“This unimaginable loss has left his children without their father, his parents without their son, his siblings without their brother and his family broken,” the website reads. “As the family navigates this heartbreaking time, we are raising funds to help support his three boys, assist with funeral expenses, and help ease the financial burden in the months ahead.”
The Deadliest Catch crew member shared his three sons with partner Kennady Harvey.
Keep scrolling for everything to know about Meadows’ death so far:
Who Was Todd Meadows?
The 25-year-old was “the newest” member of the Aleutian Lady fishing vessel crew, according to a tribute posted by Captain Rick Shelford on March 1.
“His love for fishing and his strong work ethic earned everyone’s respect right away,” Shelford’s Facebook post continued. “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.”
How Many People Have Died on ‘Deadliest Catch’? Todd Meadows and More
How Did Todd Meadows Die?
TMZ reported on March 2 that Meadows died in a “fishing-related” incident that occurred while filming Deadliest Catch. It was later reported that he “fell overboard” on February 25.
The incident was caught on cameras while filming for the Discovery Channel show, as confirmed to Us Weekly by Meadows’ bunkmate Trey John Green III.
“Discovery is done filming, but there was a producer and a deck cam guy on the boat for the past two months filming for season 22 of the show,” he said. “It was filmed, unfortunately.”
What Happened to Todd Meadows?
The Coast Guard at the Arctic District command center in Juneau, Alaska, was notified of the incident before working to get Meadows back on board.
“He was recovered unresponsive by the crew approximately 10 minutes later,” a rep for the Coast Guard told Us on March 3, noting that attempts to revive Meadows were “unsuccessful.”
‘Deadliest Catch’ Star Todd Meadows’ Death and More Reality TV Tragedies
The Coast Guard is “still investigating the situation and following up with any corrective actions and trying to understand the cause of the accident,” per the rep.
What Is Todd Meadow’s Cause of Death?
An official cause of death for Meadows has yet to be revealed.
His body was received by the Anchorage Medical Examiner’s Office and an autopsy was completed. Meadows was ultimately returned to his surviving family.
