The “Deadliest Catch’s” Phil Harris, the gruff chain-smoking fishing boat captain who sailed the rough waters off Alaska, has died from a massive stroke that felled him Jan. 29. He was 53.
Harris suffered the stroke while his boat, Cornelia Marie, was in port at St. Paul Island, Alaska. The fisherman was flown to Anchorage for surgery, according to family members and the Discovery Channel, which aired his exploits.
“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,” they added.
Discovery Channel senior vice president Elizabeth Hillman added in a statement: “Phil was a devoted father and loyal friend to all who knew him.”
“We will miss his straightforward honesty, wicked sense of humor and enormous heart,” she said.
In recent years, studies have shown cigarette smoking to be an important risk factor for stroke, according to the American Stroke Association.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts, and nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke have been shown to damage and weaken the cardiovascular system.
Harris’s health appeared to be improving in the days after his stroke. In a posting on the ship’s Web site, he was said to be “talking to friends and family” and “showing his greatest progress.”
“No one ever said Captain Phil Harris wasn’t tough. Today, dad showed some good signs of improvement, squeezing our hands and even summoning his trademark Captain’s bluntness … We are encouraged but still very cautious,” a son wrote in a Feb. 3 post.
The reality show, now in its fifth season, has been one of the Discovery Channel’s most popular. Harris and crew fished for Alaskan King Crab in the rough waters in the Bering Sea.
To Jake,and Josh, your dand I’ll be 50 in Octad was awesome.He made the show what it is and will be greatly missed! I lost my dad when I was 18,I’llbe 50 in Oct. I miss him everyday,but it does get easier,although you don’t want to hear that now.It will.You guys are in my prayers,and thoughts,especiallly when Iam down at the water with all the boats. I’ve been in rough seas grouper fishing, but dang ya’ll are crazy, but I love it!!! Keep yoour dads legacy going. shannon tucker
We will miss you mate. Thoughts and prayers with the sons/family and friends.
Phil was what made deadliest catch, he was what everyone looked forward to when that we radar thing went round on the map of the bearing sea and you would hope to see the Cornelia Marie’s name come up and the narrator say “on the thirty nine-metre cornelia marie”. That was the highlight of the show. Phil was a great man and will be very much so missed. You are at peace now. Thanks for being a great guy. We will miss you.
May you Rest In Peace
I am so sad to hear of the death of Capt. Phil. He was such a wonderful man and father. He loved his his family and his crew. I will miss him as he was my favorite person on the show.
My deepest sympathy to all of Capt. Phil’s family. I’ve watched Deadliest Catch from the beginning and kept coming back because of Capt. Phil.He was a generous and genuine person and will be greatly missed.
We were very sad to hear about the death of Capt.Phil Harris. We really enjoyed watching him and the rest of the crew on Deadliest Catch. Our condolences goes out to his family and friends. He was very muched loved. We will continue to keep his family in our prayers.
My condolences and prayers go out to the family and the crew of Cornelia Marie. Capt. Phil Harris will be missed greatly.
We were very sad to hear about Capt. Phil Harris. We have enjoyed watching Deadliest Catch. We do pray that others will learn from his death, that smoking will and does kill. We know that the family must be heartbroken, and we will pray for the family.
my condolences to the family he was a good man