'Deadliest Catch' star Nick McGlashan dies aged 33

Nick McGlashan, a deck boss who starred on the reality show Deadliest Catch, has died at the age of 33.

Nick died on Sunday in Nashville, according to TMZ, and the cause of death is currently unknown, his sister confirming the news on Twitter.

“My brother Nick passed away,” she said.

“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through. Please hold your loved ones tight.”

Nick, a seventh-generation fisherman, had appeared on the popular Discovery Channel show since 2013.

“Our deepest sympathy goes out to Nick’s loved ones during this difficult time,” a spokesperson told Yahoo Entertainment.

“Nick came from a long line of crabbers and was known for his great depth of knowledge. He also had a sharp sense of humour even in the most difficult conditions. He will be deeply missed by all those who knew him.”

Nick began crabbing on the Bering Sea at age 13. According to his bio on Discovery Go, he was named after his great uncle, Nick McGlashan, who worked on the first boat rumoured to have pioneered the US crab industry. Two of his aunts were also crabbers and one was lost at sea when the boat sank in 1986.

Nick headed the crew when Captain “Wild” Bill Wichrowski ran the Cape Caution and, most recently, the Summer Bay.

“Nick is known for his witty quips, working through the pain, and not stopping the job until it’s done. 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, according to Captain Bill, is the epitome of a true crabber,” his bio reads.

Nick struggled with alcohol and drug addiction, which got him kicked off the boat in Season 13. He ultimately went to rehab.

“Though he’s had his ups and downs, Nick has battled endlessly to stay sober and embrace a new sober lifestyle and is now so committed to his recovery that he inspires others in their own,” his bio states.

Nick shared a photo with the crew of Summer Bay earlier this month. He appeared on 78 episodes of Deadliest Catch.

Friends and fans have been sharing tributes on social media.

“This guy was immense on #DeadliestCatch and I send my condolences to Bill, all the crew of the Summer Bay and all the family and friends of Nick,” one person wrote.

“Gutted to hear he is another gone too soon,” another shared.

“So very sorry to hear of the death of @NickMcglashan. Deadliest Catch won't be the same. Thoughts and prayers to his fam, @captwildbill, and friends,” was a third tribute.

While another wrote: “My heart is broken. Nick McGlashan was one of my favourite guys on @DeadliestCatch & as strange as it is, all the guys felt like family.”

Nick’s passing is the eighth tragic death linked to Deadliest Catch in the past decade, coming just five months after deckhand Mahlon Reyes died from a heart attack.

Mahlon’s death in July aged 38 'completely shocked' his family, as he did not suffer from any known pre-existing health conditions.

Before that, former Deadliest Catch captain Blake Painter was found dead at his home in Oregon in May 2018. Joe McMahon was an associate producer on nine episodes of the show in 2013 and was killed after he was shot aged 24 near his parents' California home in 2015.

Tony Lara, a former captain of the Cornelia Marie, also suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 50 in 2015. While a few years earlier, in 2011, Justin Tennison, a deckhand on the Time Bandit, died aged 33.

Another former captain of the Cornelia Marie, Phil Harris, died at the age of 53 in 2010 - ten days after suffering a stroke. And Keith Anderson, who is the father of a Deadliest Catch star Jake Anderson, went missing in 2010 before his remains were found two years later.

Additional reporting by Taryn Ryder.

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