The cause of death of Todd Meadows, a deckhand on the Discovery Channel reality series Deadliest Catch, has been confirmed as drowning with probable hypothermia. The 25-year-old died on February 25 after falling overboard while filming aboard the fishing vessel Aleutian Lady off the coast of Alaska.
His death certificate, obtained by TMZ, listed the causes as “drowning with probable hypothermia” and “submersion of body in cold water”. The United States Coast Guard reported that Meadows was found unresponsive ten minutes after he fell overboard, and attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.
Meadows’ mother, Angela, has urged Discovery not to broadcast footage of the incident. “We don’t want to see any footage from the accident and do not want Discovery to air any of that footage or make money off of our son’s death,” she told TMZ in March. She added, “No parent would want the world to watch their child die.”
Captain Rick Shelford, who has appeared on the show since 2023, described the event as “the most tragic day in the history of the Aleutian Lady”. In a Facebook post, he praised Meadows’ work ethic and character, saying, “His smile was contagious… He worked hard, loved deeply, and brought joy to those around him.”
A Discovery Channel spokesperson expressed condolences, calling Meadows’ death “a devastating loss”. The Aleutian Lady was the last vessel featured in the forthcoming 22nd season still at sea, and filming concluded shortly after the incident. The season’s premiere date remains unannounced. The Coast Guard continues to investigate the circumstances.
