As someone who has spent countless hours watching “Deadliest Catch“, I can confidently say that these incidents are as harrowing for viewers as they must be for the crew members involved. The stories of Mike Vanderveldt and the Coast Guard deckhands are particularly chilling, serving as stark reminders of the dangers that lurk beneath the seemingly calm waters of the Bering Sea.
The life aboard the crabbing vessels featured in “Deadliest Catch” is tough and unforgiving, and the show doesn’t hesitate to reveal this grim reality. When accidents happen – like when Sig Hansen suffered a heart attack, Phil Harris experienced a fatal stroke, or Norman Hansen had a seizure on the Northwestern – these events are captured on film. Serious injuries are also shown to viewers, regardless of how gruesome or critical the situation might be, unless the involved crew members request otherwise. Fortunately, some crew members have come close to death on camera, but thankfully, they didn’t lose their lives.
No matter what type of accident occurs on a trawler, whether it’s head injuries, lost fingers, or dealing with potential internal wounds, every captain has encountered some form of trouble over the years. It’s just part of maintaining the dream and ensuring each ship is overflowing with king crab. These are the most gruesome and downright terrifying injuries associated with “Deadliest Catch.”
5: The many injuries of Taylor Jensen
Among all the newcomers who have been featured throughout the series, none has experienced as much bad fortune as Taylor Jensen from the Saga. A significant portion of Season 15 finds him getting hurt, such as accidentally cutting his forehead open on camera, and Season 16 begins with him tearing open his finger in a coil as a storm approaches. This injury may seem minor compared to the more severe ones that will follow, but it serves as an introduction since the camera can’t help but focus closely on the piece of flesh Jensen lost from his hand.
On-screen, the ship’s doctor works diligently to treat Jensen’s wound, his cries of agony echoing throughout as he struggles not to swear. However, the intensity of his pain eventually overpowers him, resulting in a series of strong profanities. This scene, with its raw and intense depiction of pain, stands out among the numerous shallow injuries and broken noses that viewers have become accustomed to from this series. Fortunately, in this instance, the stitches manage to hold, ensuring that Jensen survives to face another day at sea.
Although it may be sad to see Jensen leave, remember that he has become a co-owner of the renowned “Deadliest Catch” ship, the V/F Cornelia Marie. This just emphasizes that dedication and a touch of determination can certainly bring rewards.
4: The Patricia Lee’s Francis Katungin gets crushed against the stack
At times, misfortune may unexpectedly complicate your life significantly. Poor Francis Katungin experienced this on the Patricia Lee during Season 18 when an unforeseen wave crashed him into a row of crabbing pots. This unfortunate event made his day extremely challenging. Katungin appeared to be in pain, and his coworkers were rattled by the accident. Todd Stanley, the show’s producer, provided assistance, and throughout the segment, Katungin was seen near tears. Although he survived the ordeal, he sustained shattered hips and a fractured pelvis, requiring a medflight for medical attention back in Alaska.
2021 saw a harrowing incident that left me shaken as Captain Rip Carlton’s crew member, Todd Kochutin, met an untimely end. A 800-pound crabbing pot took his life, a chilling echo of the past that sent a shiver down my spine. Thankfully, we managed to dodge a bullet and avoid another tragedy on “Deadliest Catch.” It’s never easy to lose a fellow fisherman, but I’m grateful for the lessons learned and the chance to continue our shared pursuit.
3: Keith Colburn smashes face-first into a boat
Captain Keith Colburn doesn’t hold back when expressing his emotions, and after unintentionally hurting himself during an underwater repair on the Wizard, he appeared startlingly disoriented and bewildered.
During Season 10, an unexpected incident took place that left Colburn’s crew in shock. They had assumed the repair job was a routine task for their leader. However, a sudden rogue wave caused the ship to collide with Colburn’s head instead. Remarkably, the buoyancy of the ocean prevented his death, although he suffered a possible skull fracture. Twenty-four hours later, he started regaining consciousness. He ended up with a concussion and a wound on his head that required stitches. Despite his close brush with death, Colburn emerged relatively unscathed from this incident. If Colburn had been positioned even slightly differently, he might have sustained severe injuries.
As a dedicated gamer, I can’t help but draw parallels from my virtual adventures to the nail-biting reality series, “Deadliest Catch.” Among the various challenges faced by the show’s captains, nothing has been as chilling as the incident that just unfolded.
2: Mike Vanderveldt loses the tip of his finger
In “Deadliest Catch,” they don’t mince words about the perils of the Bering Sea. However, one particularly distressing incident involving a regular crew member stood out during Season 8. Mike Vanderveldt, the deck boss from Kodiak, slipped on the deck and got his finger caught between the launcher and the crab pot. The gruesome result was the severing of his fingertip. The show’s creators were unflinching in their portrayal of Vanderveldt’s pain, providing a stark reminder of the harsh realities faced by those working on the Bering Sea.
In this rephrased version: Captain “Wild” Bill Witchrowski springs into action, requesting a medevac return to Alaska, ensuring Vanderveldt can have his severed finger reattached. During the wait, viewers are given an unsettling view of the injured finger being treated by the onboard medic and the detached tip, placed on a paper towel, awaiting reattachment. This harrowing image is among the most disturbing in the series, yet it vividly illustrates the potential dangers inherent in crabbing pots. Thankfully, Vanderveldt eventually returned safely to land, where he and his finger were successfully reunited.
1: The Coast Guard encounters a spiral fracture and a bait grinder injury
In a rare event for regular cast members of “Deadliest Catch”, these gruesome and frightening bone breaks were featured in the episodes titled “Now or Never” from Season 15 and “The Final Battle” in Season 9. These episodes highlight the heroic actions of the Coast Guard flight crew as they assist injured commercial fishermen. In this episode, two unfortunate individuals received the spotlight, and without a doubt, their injuries were the most gruesome ever shown on “Deadliest Catch.”
In the TV show “Now Or Never,” a deckhand named Cody Rhodes from the Kari Marie endured a severe compound spiral fracture on deck, two hours prior to their docking. This ghastly injury involved his leg appearing almost completely twisted, with his foot and lower limb moving in opposite directions. Braving the harsh weather, Coast Guard swimmers raced to evacuate him urgently, transporting him to receive medical attention on solid ground.
The unfortunate “The Final Battle” patient suffered severe injury to his hand when it was caught in a fish bait grinder. Following an air ambulance ride, he was told by a surgeon at a nearby hospital that he might lose two fingers unless a specialist from Seattle intervenes. Sacrificing for fishing has never been more literal – and without a doubt, the most ghastly event ever depicted on the show.
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2024-09-01 17:00