"Deadliest Catch" is revealing the events that led to the death of one of its stars, Todd Meadows.
The reality TV deckhand died at sea on Feb. 25 at age 25 while working aboard the Aleutian Lady, a crab-fishing boat featured on the show, TMZ reported on April 6, citing Meadows' death certificate. Meadows fell into the Bering Sea around 170 miles north of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, while fishing and subsequently died of "drowning with probable hypothermia" and "submersion of body in cold water."
The Friday, Sept. 25 episode of the Discovery Channel reality series did not show Meadows fall but covered what occurred before and after his death, which TMZ reported was ruled an accident.
The episode starts with a disclaimer warning that some of its "material
may be disturbing to some viewers."
Viewers then see Meadows preparing food the day of his death in a confessional-style interview. "It’s been a rough season, from what I’ve heard; it’s been one of the rougher seasons for the boat," he says.
A producer then asks him if he would return to the boat later if he "has the opportunity to go home."
"Absolutely," Meadows answers. "It’s been one of my dreams and goals to make it up here. That’s why I’m up here: to make it and to try to support my family."
'Deadliest Catch' shows FaceTime call between Todd Meadows and his kids
The episode also features a FaceTime call between Meadows and his children, whom he said were ages 1, 2 and 4.
"I hope you’re being safe," his daughter tells him. "If you’re not being safe, you better be safe."
"Oh, I’m being safe," he responded, then told his son that they can go salmon fishing when he is back home.
Meadows told producers that being far from his family is a "heart-wrencher" because his one- and two-year-olds don't understand why he's away from them for so long.
'Deadliest Catch' captures responses to Meadows falling overboard
While the episode does not show Meadows falling overboard, it does capture the crew's reactions when the tragedy occurred.
Capt. Rick Shelford hears screams from the deck crew and asks whether everyone is okay; the crew replies, "No," then says there’s a man overboard. Shelford immediately turns the boat around and tells the crew to prepare the ring and crane. "I got my eye on him. … He is out," he adds after the crew pulls him out of the ocean.
"Come on, man. Come on, someone go get the AUD right now," Shelford says.
He then instructs the others to get him out of the water and perform CPR. The show doesn't capture the procedures on deck; instead, it stays in the control center. The episode then pans to the water, and a text card displays the message "On February 25th, 2026, deckhand Todd Meadows went overboard. After six minutes and twenty-six seconds in the water, he was recovered unresponsive."
Cutting back to the captain, he tells the crew to "keep pumping" and then calls the Coast Guard and waits for further guidance. Shelford is seen crying before a producer tells him, "He's gone, Rick."
Todd Meadows: 'There’s a lot of risk being up here'
By the end of the episode, the episode returns to Meadows' interview from the start, where he discusses why he was there.
"There’s a lot of risk being up here, but I came up here to make money to try to support my family," he said.
A producer asks him what he wants to say to his children, prompting a heartfelt answer.
"Work towards your dreams and goals; don’t let anything slow you down," he said. "If you put your mind to it, you can do anything. Just want my kids to know I want them to work hard and be successful in life."
The harrowing episode comes after a Sept. 18 episode where Meadows was medically cleared to rejoin the crew following a head concussion he suffered in January while working aboard the vessel.
Capt. Rick Shelford said Todd Meadows 'quickly became family'
After Meadows' death, Shelford shared a tribute on Instagram March 2, writing, "We lost our brother."
"Todd was the newest member of our crew, he quickly became family. His love for fishing and his strong work ethic earned everyone's respect right away," Shelford wrote at the time. "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."
Shelford continued: "Todd will forever be part of this boat, this crew and this brotherhood. Though we lost him far too soon, his legacy will live on through his children and in every memory we carry of him."
Contributing: Edward Segarra and Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Todd Meadows' death chronicled in harrowing 'Deadliest Catch' episode
