Deadliest Catch star Todd Meadows dead at 25 as Captain Rick Shelford says ‘our hearts are broken’

DEADLIEST Catch star Todd Meadows has died at 25 while on the Bering Sea filming the long-running series, as his crew members mourn his shocked passing.

Todd, a rookie deckhand on the fishing boat, Aleutian Lady, featured in the Discovery Channel series, passed away.

TMZ revealed that Todd died on Wednesday in a “fishing-related incident” during filming.

Captain Rick Shelford confirmed the tragic news in a Facebook post on Monday.

“February 25, 2026 was the most tragic day in the history of the Aleutian Lady on the Bering Sea. We lost our brother, Todd Meadows,” the captain’s post began.

“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.

“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.

The captain added about the crew’s grief, “Our hearts are broken in a way that words can’t fully express.”

Also included in the post were photos of Todd on the job, sporting a yellow rain jacket, gloves, and a baseball cap.

Sources said the Deadliest Catch producers have been informed of the incident and are offering resources to help others cope with the loss, according to TMZ.

A spokesperson for the Discovery Channel also shared a statement with the outlet, saying, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Todd Meadows.

“This is a devastating loss, and our hearts are with his loved ones, his crewmates, and the entire fishing community during this incredibly difficult time.”

Deadliest Catch premiered on the network in 2005, offering an inside look at the harsh conditions faced by fishing crews on the Bering Sea.

The show was likely filming Season 22 at the time, after Season 21 ended last year.

Sadly, many of the show’s stars have passed over the years, including Captain Phil Harris, who died suddenly at 53 in 2010 after suffering a stroke.

Phil was unloading his boat at Satin Paul Island, Alaska, when the medical emergency occurred, and he later died in the hospital.

In June 2024, fans were stunned to learn that Nick Mavar, the longest-running regular cast member on the show, had died suddenly at 59.

Nick appeared on the series from 2005 to 2021, when he left due to a health scare involving his appendix.

It’s unclear if this was connected to his death.

Four years earlier, Nick McGlashan was found dead in his hotel room at 33 after a long battle with drugs and alcohol abuse.

An autopsy later determined that he died of an overdose of “meth, cocaine, and fentanyl,” The U.S. Sun exclusively revealed.

While some dealt with their own challenges off the boat, the dangers of the job are glaringly apparent as they face “life-threatening situations” at sea, Captain Sig Hansen told Fox News Digital during a sit-down in June 2024.

“We’ve had events where the boat was icing down to the point where I thought there was no return,” the captain said of one terrifying incident on the water.

“You watch people and friends that you know, and you’re literally in the fog,” he added.

“They’re right over there, and there’s nothing I can do about it, and they’re gone. I think that’s a godd–n challenge.”