“Deadliest Catch” will pay a special tribute to the late crew member Todd Meadows, who tragically passed away while filming the reality series.
The Discovery Channel series will return for Season 22 on May 8 and will look back at how the loss of Meadows has affected the crew and the fishing community, US Weekly reported Thursday.
Throughout the season, the show will preview Meadows’ contributions to the fishing season.
However, the outlet said producers refused to depict Meadows’ death out of respect for his family and friends.
A representative for Discovery Channel did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
Page Six confirmed on February 25 that Meadows died after falling off a boat while working on the set of “Deadliest Catch.” He was 25 years old.
Co-star Trey John Green III told Page Six that he was in a shell trap known as a pot, winnowing out the crabs when they went overboard.
“We were like, ‘Oh my God, he’s going to go to the bottom. There’s no way to get this pot back up,'” Green said.
Mr. Green explained that he saw Meadows exit the pot and enter the water, which was “just a degree or two below zero.”
Meadows’ body was “lifeless” within four minutes, and it took rescue workers 10 minutes to recover it. Attempts at CPR were unsuccessful.
Capt. Rick Shelford of the “Worst Catch” confirmed the death on Facebook, calling it “the most tragic day in the history of the Lady of the Aleutian Islands in the Bering Sea.”
“Todd was a new member of our crew,” Shelford wrote, adding, “He quickly became part of the family. His love of fishing and his strong work ethic quickly earned everyone’s respect.”
Additionally, Meadows’ mother implored the network to “only air the good things” about her son.
According to TMZ, Meadows’ family is preparing to file a wrongful death lawsuit. However, it is unclear who will be named as the defendant.
Meadows is survived by his sons;
