Deadliest Catch
Deadliest Catch Nightmare: Tragedy Strikes Again as the Crew Faces Another Heartbreaking Loss
King crab and snow crab fishing in the Bering Sea is consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous professions in the world. These tragedies serve as a painful reminder of the inherent risks fishermen face every day.
Recent Losses
In recent years, the Deadliest Catch community has had to say a final farewell to several familiar faces:
- Nick Mavar (Deckhand, Northwestern): A seasoned veteran of the show, Mavar passed away in June 2024 at the age of 59. He reportedly suffered a heart attack while at a boatyard in Naknek, Alaska, and fell from a ladder. His death sent shockwaves through the fleet, particularly affecting his nephew and colleague, Captain Jake Anderson.
- Carl “Blind Dog” Gorsegner (Deckhand, Time Bandit): Captain Johnathan Hillstrand delivered the sad news in late December 2024 that his former crewmate, Carl Gorsegner, had drowned in Seward, Alaska. An October 2025 episode of the show was dedicated to his memory.
- Jacob Riley Veeser (Crew member, Lady Alaska): In April 2025, the body of Jacob Riley Veeser, 28, was found in Iliuliuk Harbor in Unalaska Bay after he went missing during a severe winter storm. Veeser was a member of the crew on the Lady Alaska, a vessel that had appeared on the show.
A History of Heartbreak
These recent events add to a list of tragedies that have occurred over the show’s 20-year history:
- Captain Phil Harris (Cornelia Marie): One of the most beloved personalities, Phil Harris suffered a massive stroke in January 2010 and passed away later from a pulmonary embolism at age 53. The final days of his life were documented on the show, moving viewers deeply.
- Todd Kochutin (Patricia Lee): He died in February 2021 from injuries sustained after being struck by an 800-pound crab pot on deck.
- Nick McGlashan (Summer Bay): The talented deck boss died in December 2020 at age 33 from a drug overdose; he had been open about his struggles with addiction in previous seasons.
- Blake Painter (Maverick): The former captain was found dead in his Oregon home in May 2018 of an apparent drug overdose at age 38.
- Justin Tennison (Time Bandit): Another deckhand, Justin Tennison, was found dead in an Alaska hotel room in February 2011.
- The Sinking of the Destination: In February 2017, the crab boat Destination sank, and all six crew members were lost at sea. A Coast Guard investigation found the sinking was likely due to the boat being overloaded with ice.
These events continuously remind the audience that beyond the camera lenses, fishing in Alaska remains a brutal, life-and-death struggle for survival against nature’s unforgiving power.
