Discovery's Deadliest Catch will pay tribute to deckhand Todd Meadows, who died at the age of 25 during production of the upcoming season. Meadows passed away on February 25 while working aboard the Aleutian Lady, one of the vessels featured on the long-running series. The official cause of death was drowning with probable hypothermia, following submersion in cold water.
The show, produced by Fremantle's Original Productions, was still filming when the incident occurred. Production concluded shortly afterwards as the Aleutian Lady was the last vessel at sea. The series will address the tragedy with care and honour his memory, but will not show his death on air.
Season 22 premieres on Discovery at 8pm on Friday, May 8. The premiere episode will include a tribute, and later episodes will look back on the fishing season, including Meadows' contributions. He will appear in episodes in the second half of the season, with footage filmed in the weeks before the accident.
This season follows a new king crab population appearing far north, prompting the fleet to relocate 225 miles to St George Island. Captains abandon familiar grounds to chase a rare breed of red king crab. Captain Sig Hansen launches a covert scouting mission with an underwater drone, while Captain 'Wild Bill' Wichrowski guides him through new territory. Captain Jake Anderson starts as a deckhand for the first time in 11 years after losing his boat and marriage, before an opportunity to restore the Cornelia Marie arises.
