'Oh, I'm being safe': Deadliest Catch star's final words to his children before he fell into the Bering Sea

From the Newshound archive · first published 27 September 2026 · last updated 28 September 2026.

Todd Meadows, 25, was on a FaceTime call with his children moments before he went overboard from the Aleutian Lady into the freezing Alaskan waters of the Bering Sea on 26 February 2026, reassuring his daughter he was 'being safe' after she urged him to take care. The exchange was shown in the Season 22 finale of the Discovery Channel show. Meadows — a father of three children all aged under five — died from drowning with probable hypothermia after spending six minutes and 26 seconds in the water. He had described joining the crew as 'one of his dreams and goals' to support his family.

Captain Rick Shelford turned the boat around after hearing screams, but Meadows was unresponsive when pulled from the sea.

A producer broke the news to Shelford on camera, telling him simply: 'He's gone, Rick.'

Meadows had told producers leaving his children — aged one, two and four — was a 'heart-wrencher' because the youngest had no comprehension of his absence.