Deadliest Catch star Nick McGlashan has died aged 33, marking the eighth tragic death among the show’s cast and crew in the last decade.
McGlashan, a seventh-generation fisherman and crabber who appeared on the Discovery Channel reality series for seven years, passed away on Sunday in Nashville, TMZ reported.
The cause of death has yet to be determined, the outlet said, citing family and a medical examiner.
McGlashan’s sister confirmed the news of his death on Twitter on Sunday night, writing: ‘This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through. Please hold your loved ones tight.’
Deadliest Catch star Nick McGlashan (pictured) died aged 33 in Nashville on Sunday
McGlashan, a seventh-generation fisherman and crabber, appeared on 78 episodes of the Discovery Channel reality series from 2013 to 2020
McGlashan, who featured on 78 episodes of Deadliest Catch between 2013 and 2020, was born in Akutan, Alaska, to a family of veteran fishermen.
He started crabbing on the storied Bering Sea at the young age of 13, following in the footsteps of his namesake uncle, who was rumored to have worked on the first boat in America’s crab industry.
McGlashan quickly rose through industry ranks, piloting the Cape Caution before taking over the wheel of the Summer Bay. Both ships were featured on Deadliest Catch.
McGlashan’s passing marks the eighth tragic death linked to Deadliest Catch in the past decade. A poster for the show is pictured above
His career was thrown into chaos when he was suspended from the show in 2017 due to struggles with alcohol and drug addiction that landed him in rehab.
At the height of his addiction, McGlashan was drinking a half-gallon of vodka and shooting up a gram of meth and heroin each day, TMZ reported.
He got clean in 2017 and went on to use his experience to inspire others to stay sober.
‘All I ever wanted to do was be a fisherman, and I lost that,’ he told the Anchorage Daily News in May of that year. ‘I lost the ability to work at sea because I forgot how to live on land.’
McGlashan’s biography makes note of his addiction while praising his energetic presence on deck.
‘Nick is known for his witty quips, working through the pain, and not stopping the job until it’s done,’ the biography states.
‘He has also kept the boat running through all kinds of mechanical issues, manufacturing quick fixes on the fly. Nick has a wealth of fishing experience and is the epitome of a true crabber.’
McGlashan was born in Akutan, Alaska, to a family of veteran fishermen. He started crabbing on the storied Bering Sea at the young age of 13
McGlashan’s cause of death has yet to be determined. He is pictured with his mother in May
McGlashan’s passing marks the eighth tragic death linked to Deadliest Catch in the past decade, coming five months after deckhand Mahlon Reyes died from a heart attack in July.
Fishing in the Bering Sea is notoriously dangerous, with perilous and icy waters putting boats at high risk of capsizing as their crews wrangle heavy equipment on deck.
But as with McGlashan and Reyes, many of the deaths surrounding Deadliest Catch did not take place on the sea.
Mahlon Reyes
Reyes’ death aged 38 ‘completely shocked’ the family, as he did not suffer from any known pre-existing health conditions.
He was pronounced dead at a hospital in his hometown of Whitefish, Montana, soon after suffering a ‘massive heart attack’ on July 25.
Reyes, who last appeared on Deadliest Catch in 2015, was reportedly in the recovery process from a torn Achilles tendon, which he suffered while crabbing.
He was planning on going back to Alaska for the beginning of the next fishing season.
To honor his memory, Reyes’ wife revealed she and his Deadliest Catch crew made plans to spread some of his ashes in the Bering Sea.
Mahlon Reyes (pictured), who worked as a deckhand on the Seabrooke and Cape Caution, died of a heart attack aged 38 in July
Blake Painter
Before Reyes, former Deadliest Catch captain Blake Painter was found dead at his home in Astoria, Oregon, in May 2018.
Authorities never released a specific cause of death for painter, but TMZ reported that a number of drugs were found near his body, including heroin, meth and the prescription painkiller Tramadol.
His death was rumored to be from an accidental overdose after police found no evidence of foul play.
Former Deadliest Catch captain Blake Painter (pictured) was found dead of an apparent accidental drug overdose at his home in Astoria, Oregon, in May 2018
Joe McMahon
Joe McMahon, who served as an associate producer on nine episodes of Deadliest Catch in 2013, was shot and killed aged 24 near his parents’ California home in July of 2015.
The LA Sheriff’s Office determined that he was killed in a murder suicide after the suspected shooter was found dead in his car with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Reports at the time suggested that McMahon had gone outside to investigate a noise coming from the street when he was shot.
Witnesses reported hearing seven gunshots followed by the sound of a car driving away.
Investigators later identified McMahon’s killer as 24-year-old Brandon Rafiepour. They did not say how the pair knew each other.
Joe McMahon (pictured), who served as an associate producer on nine episodes of Deadliest Catch in 2013, was shot and killed aged 24 near his parents’ California home in July of 2015
Tony Lara
Tony Lara, former captain of the Cornelia Marie, died aged 50 after suffering a heart attack while sleeping in Sturgis, South Dakota, in August 2015.
Though he had only appeared in six episodes of Deadliest Catch, his death was felt deeply by members of the cast and crew.
‘No conversation was cut short. No call unreturned,’ Lara’s crew said in a statement after his death. ‘When the Cornelia Marie needed him, he was quick to respond with a “When” and “Where.”
‘He offered his support and his advice. He taught and he educated. At the end of the day, Tony made all of us just a little bit better.’
Tony Lara (pictured), former captain of the Cornelia Marie, died aged 50 after suffering a heart attack while sleeping in Sturgis, South Dakota, in August 2015
Justin Tennison
Justin Tennison, a deckhand on the Time Bandit, died aged 33 in 2011 at a hotel room in Homer, Alaska, just four days after returning from sea.
His death was ruled to be from complications with sleep apnea.
‘Justin was tough as a bull and was an all-around good hand,’ the ship’s crew said in a statement announcing the news.
‘The captains and crew appreciated his hard work and many contributions this past year. We will miss him terribly and wish his family all the best during this most difficult time.’
Justin Tennison (pictured), a deckhand on the Time Bandit, died aged 33 in 2011 at a hotel room in Homer, Alaska, just four days after returning from sea
Keith Anderson
Keith Anderson, the father of Deadliest Catch star Jake Anderson, went missing in 2010 and his skeletal remains were found two years later in rural Washington state.
His death was ruled a homicide but eight years later no one has been arrested.
Deadliest Catch cameras captured the moment Jake Anderson learned that his father had gone missing, providing some of the most haunting scenes of the entire series.
After Keith Anderson’s body was recovered, his son spoke candidly on the show about how the trauma had motivated him to be the best fisherman possible.
Keith Anderson (pictured), the father of Deadliest Catch star Jake Anderson, went missing in 2010 and his skeletal remains were found two years later in rural Washington state
Phil Harris
Phil Harris, captain of the Cornelia Marie, died aged 53 in 2010 – ten days after suffering a stroke while unloading crab in Alaska.
Immediately after the stroke Harris was transported to a hospital in Anchorage where he underwent surgery and was placed in a medically-induced coma.
A little over a week later he was brought out of the coma and pronounced dead.
Harris’ son Josh opened up about his father’s death in an interview with People at the time, revealing the comfort his family found in his final days.
‘We had nine days total that we were there to enjoy a few moments with him,’ Josh said. ‘We had our closest people there, and it was awesome.’
Phil Harris (pictured), captain of the Cornelia Marie, died aged 53 in 2010 – ten days after suffering a stroke while unloading crab in Alaska