Deadliest Catch star Todd Meadows has died at the age of 25.
Captain Rick Shelford, Meadows’ co-star on the long-running fishing reality series, confirmed the news in an emotional Facebook post on Sunday. According to Shelford, Meadows passed away on Feb. 25.
“February 25, 2026, was the most tragic day in the history of the Aleutian Lady on the Bering Sea,” Shelford wrote. “We lost our brother, Todd Meadows.”
Deadliest Catch star Todd Meadows, pictured here on a fishing trip, has died at 25.
Meadows (seen here following another fishing expedition) reportedly died on Feb. 25.
He added, “Todd was the newest member of our crew, and he quickly became family. His love for fishing and his strong work ethic earned everyone’s respect right away.”
Rick Shelford went on to say the Deadliest Catch star’s “smile was contagious,” adding that “the sound of his laughter coming up the wheelhouse stairs or over the deck hailer is something we will carry with us always.”
“Todd’s love for his children, his family, and his life was evident in everything he did,” Shelford continued in the post, which featured four photos of Meadows. “He worked hard, loved deeply, and brought joy to those around him. Right now, our hearts are broken in a way that words can’t fully express.”
Deadliest Catch star Captain Rick Shelford confirmed in an emotional Facebook post that Meadows (seen here in a photo shared on social media) had passed away.
After asking fans to “lift Todd’s children and family in prayer and keep them in your thoughts,” Shelford said Meadows would “forever be part of this boat, this crew, and this brotherhood.”
“Though we lost him far too soon, his legacy will live on through his children and in every memory we carry of him,” he concluded. “Rest easy brother, till we meet again.”
While an official cause of death has not been confirmed, a source told TMZ that Meadows died in a “fishing-related” incident while cameras for “Deadliest Catch” were rolling.
“His love for fishing and his strong work ethic earned everyone’s respect right away,” Captain Rick Shelford said of Meadows (seen here in another photo shared on social media).
However, the outlet noted it was unclear whether Meadows’ death was captured on camera.
A spokesperson for Discovery Channel also confirmed Meadows’ passing in a statement to TMZ.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Todd Meadows,” the network said. “This is a devastating loss, and our hearts are with his loved ones, his crewmates, and the entire fishing community during this incredibly difficult time.”
Deadliest Catch has aired on Discovery Channel since premiering in April 2005. Season 21, the reality series’ most recent installment, debuted in August 2025.
Although an official cause of death has not been confirmed, a source claimed that Meadows (seen here in a photo from Facebook) died in a “fishing-related” incident.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched in honor of Meadows (seen here in another photo from social media) to support his family.
Representatives for Discovery Channel did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment. A GoFundMe created in Meadows’ name asks for donations to help care for his children.
“Any donation, no matter the size, will go directly toward honoring his life and ensuring his boys are cared for in the way he would have wanted,” the fundraiser message reads. “If you are unable to give, please keep our family in your prayers and his name alive like he wanted.”
Other Deadliest Catch cast members who have died in recent years include Nick McGlashan, Nick Mavar, Mahlon Reyes and Blake Painter.
