Deadliest Catch’s season 22 finale, aired Sept. 25, recounts Todd Meadows’ fatal Feb. 25 fall overboard without showing it. The episode says he was recovered unresponsive after 6 minutes 26 seconds in the water; a doctor said he could not be revived.
The episode’s on-screen caption says Meadows was in the water for 6 minutes 26 seconds before recovery; a Coast Guard Arctic District spokesperson had previously said his crewmates recovered him about 10 minutes after the fall. The incident occurred about 170 miles north of Dutch Harbor, Alaska. His death certificate listed drowning with probable hypothermia, and his death was ruled an accident. The crew opened the boat to authorities after returning to land for an investigation.
His mother, Angela Meadows, had publicly asked Discovery not to air footage of his fatal accident or profit from it, and hoped the series would focus on positive moments from his time aboard. The Sept. 18 episode showed Meadows returning to the Aleutian Lady after medical clearance following a concussion in late January.
