Posted on 02/10/2010 4:03:19 AM PST by TexasCajun
ANCHORAGE, Alaska Phil Harris, the fishing boat captain whose adventures off the Alaska coast were captured on the television show "Deadliest Catch", has died, the Discovery Channel said Tuesday night. He was 53.
Harris suffered what his family described as a massive stroke on Jan. 29 while the fishing vessel he captained, Cornelia Marie, was in port at St. Paul Island, Alaska. The fisherman was flown to Anchorage for surgery.
The reality show, which has filmed five seasons, has been one of the Discovery Channel's most popular and depicts the crab fishing industry in the dangerous waters off Alaska.
"It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dad - Captain Phil Harris. Dad has always been a fighter and continued to be until the end," sons Josh and Jake Harris said in a statement released by the network. "For us and the crew, he was someone who never backed down."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
And women...
RIP Captain Harris.
Smoking has its consequences.
Yeah, I remember that after he coughed up his blood clot-—the docs told him he needed to stop smoking, stop gulping down the Red Bulls, and to stay off the boat for good.
Phil made a conscious choice to disregard these orders, and sealed his own fate.
Still luv him though. May he RIP.
Damit. I liked Phil and it is a terrible way to go out for a Bering Sea Captain.
The season is aobut over (if not already) and now I wonder aobut the fate of the CM. Back up cpatians do not seem to be able to make it happen.
Now I am about to take my last voyage, a great leap in the dark.
- Thomas Hobbes
He was much too young at 53. He lived hard.
We have watched the show from the beginning. Can’t wait until April for the next season to start.
Dear God no!!
Phil was one of my favorite Captains on Deadliest Catch. I’ve been following the updates on him on Facebook, and it didn’t appear that it was quite this severe.
I am filled with sadness. The series won’t be the same without him.
Damn. Just damn....
condolences to his crew and family. I really liked the guy and his honest way of confronting life.
A credit to his family and to the nation......we could use more like him.
RIFP
He was a man’s man to the end.
Pray for America and Phil’s sons
Not just men. Little Lisa Kelly is the real deal when it comes to driving the Ice Roads.
Even with the father-son ass-chewings and the brother-brother rivalry, the family grew closer and it showed.
“Yeah, I remember that after he coughed up his blood clot-the docs told him he needed to stop smoking, stop gulping down the Red Bulls, and to stay off the boat for good.”
Usually, after having a pulmonary embolism, they start you on blood-thinners, which are pretty much incompatible with the fishing life. I recall that one of his parents died of a blood clot as well. I wouldnt be at all surprised that this was an embolic stroke that got him. Sad,sad thing.
I wonder if one of his sons has the experience to step up into his shoes as captain, or if they will need a series of jobbing captains to run the boat. I’d guess that the one of the 2 that’s been on the boat longer (the younger one?) will make the step up.
Actually, I bet Murray will move up to full time captain, at least until Jake and Josh are ready.
Obama voter?
Just kidding.. don’t make many like him any more. Tough SOB. Part of me is glad that these TV shows like he was on is giving respect to those who work their ass off versus girley men.
I can’t believe he won’t be on the show anymore. It just blows me away. OTOH it’s not surprising, given his health and lack of motivation to improve it. Just sad all the way around. He was certainly a colorful character and a lot of fun to watch.
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