‘Deadliest Catch’ deckhand Todd Meadows death under Coast Guard investigation

The death of “Deadliest Catch” deckhand Todd Meadows is being investigated, the Coast Guard confirmed to Fox News Digital.

Meadows died last week while fishing with the Aleutian Lady off the coast of Alaska. He was 25 years old.

Coast Guard sentries at the Arctic Region command center in Juneau received notification from a fishing boat that a crew member had fallen overboard just after 5 p.m. local Alaska time, officials told Fox News Digital.

According to the Coast Guard, the Aleutian Lady was positioned “approximately 170 miles north of Dutch Harbor” when Meadows crashed into the sea.

“He was rescued unresponsive by the crew approximately ten minutes later,” officials said. “First aid and resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful and the crew transported the deceased to Dutch Harbor.”

“The Coast Guard is currently investigating this situation. As the nation’s leading maritime safety organization, the Coast Guard investigates deaths and accidents at sea, uncovering their causes and initiating necessary corrective actions.”

Capt. Rick Shelford called Meadows’ death the “most tragic day in the history” of his boat in a statement shared on social media.

“Todd was the newest member of our team, he quickly became family,” Shelford wrote online. “His love of fishing and strong work ethic immediately earned everyone’s respect.”

“His smile was contagious, and the sound of his laughter coming from the wheelhouse steps or atop the deck trailer is something we will always carry with us.”

“Todd’s love for his children, his family, and his life was evident in everything he did. He worked hard, loved deeply, and brought joy to those around him. Our hearts are broken right now in a way that words cannot fully express,” Shelford continued.

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Capt. Rick Shelford confirmed Meadows’ death on social media. (Discovery)

The captain asked his followers to pray for the late fisherman’s children and family and to “keep them in your thoughts as we face the days ahead.”

“Todd will forever be a part of this boat, this crew and this brotherhood,” Shelford added. “Although we lost him too soon, his legacy will live on through his children and in every memory we have of him. Rest easy, brother, until we meet again.”

The crowdfunding campaign created to support Meadows’ children stated that he died “doing what he loved – crabbing in Alaskan waters.”

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“He was a determined father of three amazing little boys who were his whole world,” the campaign said. “Everything he did was for them—their smiles, their futures, and the memories they would carry with them.”

Todd Meadows died while working on Aleutian Lady. (Discovery)

Representatives of the Discovery Channel program also confirmed Meadows’ death in a statement shared with Fox News Digital.

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“We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Todd Meadows. This is a devastating loss and our hearts go out to his loved ones, his crew and the entire fishing community during this incredibly difficult time.”

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