Deadliest Catch Star, 25, Dies After Falling Overboard

The Bering Sea just claimed another life.

Todd Meadows, a deckhand on Discovery’s Deadliest Catch, died after he was reported missing overboard from the fishing vessel Aleutian Lady, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard said it was notified shortly after 5 p.m. local time on February 25, 2026, that Meadows had fallen into the water about 170 miles north of Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

Officials say the crew recovered him roughly 10 minutes later, but he was unresponsive. Despite first aid and resuscitation attempts, he could not be revived. The crew then transported his body to Dutch Harbor.

Now, the Coast Guard is investigating what happened.

Meadows was a first-year cast member on the long-running series and had joined the show last May. Reports say episodes from the new season featuring him have not aired yet.

Aleutian Lady Captain Rick Shelford confirmed the loss in a heartbreaking social media tribute, calling February 25 “the most tragic day in the history of the Aleutian Lady on the Bering Sea,” adding: “We lost our brother.”

Discovery also released a statement describing Meadows’ death as “a devastating loss,” and offering condolences to his loved ones and the broader fishing community.

An online fundraiser for Meadows’ family, including his three sons, had raised around $30,000+ as of early reports this week, aimed at funeral costs and support for his children.

Deadliest Catch has documented the extreme danger of crab fishing since it premiered in 2005, and Meadows is the latest loss connected to the show’s high-risk world. Past tragedies include crewman Todd Kochutin, who died in 2021 after injuries aboard the Patricia Lee, and Captain Phil Harris, who died in 2010 after a stroke.