TV's "Deadliest Catch" Captain Phil Harris Dies
February 10, 2010


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tough fishing boat captain Phil Harris, whose brave exploits in the wild waters off the Alaskan coast were captured on the popular television show "Deadliest Catch," has died, family members said. He was 53.Harris suffered a stroke in late January while in port at St. Paul Island, Alaska, off-loading the fishing vessel he ran, the Cornelia Marie. He was taken to an Anchorage hospital for treatment, and his sons and the Discovery Channel, which aired the show, said late on Tuesday he had died.

"Dad has always been a fighter and continued to be until the end," his sons Josh and Jake Harris, who were deckhands on the boat, said a statement. "For us and the crew, he was someone who never backed down. We will remember and celebrate that strength."

Harris and other captains have gained admiration on "Deadliest Catch," which airs in 170 countries, displaying their prowess in catching king and Opilio crab in dangerous currents and icy conditions in the Bering Sea between Alaska and Russia.

The tattooed Harris was one of the most vocal captains on the TV series, which began in 2005, risking his life for commercial fishing. Alaska is home to one of the world's largest food fisheries.

"He was more than someone on our television screen. Phil was a devoted father and loyal friend to all who knew him. We will miss his straightforward honesty, wicked sense of humor and enormous heart," the Discovery Channel said in a statement.

"We share our tremendous sadness over this loss with the millions of viewers who followed Phil's every move."

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A later article said he suffered a heart attack first and then later died of a stroke in the hospital. imo This shows another way that industry can kill you. They chronicled his and the other captains sitting at the helm for stretches as long as 72 hours, living on coffee and cigarettes to stay awake. The crew as well may works 24 hours at a time without a nap and keep up that pace for few weeks during the short seasons. It takes a toll over and the dangers of the sea and cold.

Some recent changes in the regulations are starting to address this. In the past it was catch the most that you could within the time frame. Quotas and a longer season might help prevent putting the fishermen at such risk reducing the need to brave the sometimes extremely dangerous conditions.

Phil Harris, ‘Deadliest Catch’ captain – find him at Fishermen’s Memorial in Seattle

We have an affinity for the Alaska Fishermen as many if not most of the fishing fleet is based here, live here, are from here. Not to ignore the number of people from here that in their younger days have gone up for a season, crab, salmon, or cod and worked in the processing plants.

Those at the processing plants work as hard as the fishermen with employees working 7 days a week up to 14 hours a day for 6 or 8 weeks straight to accommodate the fishing seasons.

One of my dearest friends from this area, is a net salmon fisherman in Alaska every summer. I live in constant fear for him from the last hug in the spring to the first hug in August when it's over. In the 3 month season, he figures he earns better than half of his years income up there. Then he comes back and runs a small Mountain Home Care business during the winter months and teaches youngsters to ski and volunteers to run their racing program as well. Wonderful, wonderful person, I privilege to know him.

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A later article said he suffered a heart attack first and then later died of a stroke in the hospital. imo This shows another way that industry can kill you. They chronicled his and the other captains sitting at the helm for stretches as long as 72 hours, living on coffee and cigarettes to stay awake. The crew as well may works 24 hours at a time without a nap and keep up that pace for few weeks during the short seasons. It takes a toll over and the dangers of the sea and cold.

Some recent changes in the regulations are starting to address this. In the past it was catch the most that you could within the time frame. Quotas and a longer season might help prevent putting the fishermen at such risk reducing the need to brave the sometimes extremely dangerous conditions.

I've wached a few epesodes of "Deadliest Catch".
Wore me out just watching.

But don't anyone dare suggest any kind of regulation.
Only left wing, socialists would do that.

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But don't anyone dare suggest any kind of regulation.
Only left wing, socialists would do that.

Actually the changes might be considered a loosening of the regulations, sorta.

There has long been a need to protect the industry from overfishing. Orginally they did it by shortening the season to meet a total quota. That left each individual boat in the position of being in a free for all working 24/7 in any type of weather conditions to catch as much of the total quota as they could.

Now they are switching to individual quotas for each boat and giving them more time to catch them.

It is called the "Deadliest Catch" because it is the most dangerous job in this country and the changes are trying to address that. With a little more time they might not be fishing during the deadly storms and the people can get a little rest as well.

Today the Discovery Channel is having a Deadliest Catch Marathon in honor of Captain Phil.

It is called the Deadliest Catch for a reason.

We lost another boat last night. It went down suddenly. All four crew members were pulled out of the water after 3 hours. They were in survival suits.

But I was saddened to hear this morning one man pulled out of the water unconcious did not survive. They think he was injured leaving the boat and had struck his head.

Story here with video, May-day tapes, and photo of boat

Discovery started their newest season on April 13th.

It is a little hard to see Captain Phil back in the captain's chair after 22 months and hospitalization for a blood clot that went to his lungs almost killing him then.

It is tough to hear him joke about his health and risking his life by going back out to sea knowing that it was likely a later clot that went to his brain and killed him.

A two hour final Captain Phil episode airs tonight. He was quite the character and many fans learned to appreciate him. Biker, fisherman, captain, father, friend and more to those around him.

The last episode had him in the hospital with hopes for recovery being spoken and prayed about. He was doing well for a while and still tried to be the man he always was, in control of the situation. even when in this case he was not.

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The New York Times reported that in his final moments, Harris slipped a cameraman this note: "Keep filming."

A memorial episode will be aired next week while this one chronicles his passing.

 
For fans who've watched Phil for the last six seasons, this is a real tear-jerker.

For those who only know the show in passing, I still recommend a kleenex or two.



*CJ