Fans of Deadliest Catch saw Keith Colburn suffer a medical emergency at sea last season. Since then, viewers have been asking questions about what happened and how Colburn is doing. Recently, more of the story has been revealed by the show, including the cause of the medical emergency.
Viewers Saw Keith Colburn Endure A Medical Emergency In The Middle Of The Bering Sea Towards The End Of Season 20
As Deadliest Catch fans know, Keith Colburn has served as a captain on the shipping vessel F/V Wizard, first appearing in the third season. He often appears alongside his brother, Monte “Mouse” Colburn, who occasionally takes over as captain.
The series long depicts the dangers the fisherman face, especially at sea. Just last season, viewers watched as Keith suffered a medical emergency while on his vessel in the middle of the Bering Sea. At the time, his brother Mouse had to sail in dangerous waters to get Keith to safety.
As the season drew to a close, viewers saw Keith as he was released from the hospital, though his diagnosis wasn’t initially shared. Since then, Keith has been rather silent about what happened, only posting on social media for special events, like Christmas or Memorial Day.
At the time, fans had worried Keith could have endured a cardiac event or stroke. However, the show itself finally confirmed more information with the recent release of Season 21, which premiered on August 1, 2025.
During a recent episode, it was shared that Keith’s medical team had confirmed he endured a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or a mini stroke. As previously reported, there had been some speculation among fans that this could have been the cause of Keith’s emergency.
Season 21 Of Deadliest Catch Already Warns Of Stressful Situations On The Show, But Keith Isn’t Alone
Keith shared, “I have to minimize my stress this year.” He added, “I’m not flying out on a plane again.”
As Keith continued, “You know. The most stressful job in the world is being the captain on a Bering Sea crab boat. I have to find a way to go from here…down to here,” while gesturing with his hands.
The series already teased a variety of stressful situations on the ship this season, from a broken rudder to the crew having to abandon their ship. Fortunately, it appeared that Keith’s crew was there to support him as he dealt with stress and kept his cool.
