“Deadliest Catch” Star Todd Meadows’ Cause of Death Revealed

Over one month after Todd Meadows died in a fishing accident, his cause of death has been revealed.

The Deadliest Catch star, who appeared on the Discovery Channel series as a deckhand, died from “drowning with probable hypothermia” and “submersion of body in cold water,” according to his death certificate that was issued March 6, and obtained by TMZ on Monday, April 6.

The document indicates that an autopsy was performed and the death was ultimately ruled an accident.

In the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 25, Meadows “fell overboard” while working on the Aleutian Lady fishing vessel off the coast of Alaska, a spokesperson for the United States Coast Guard Arctic District confirmed to PEOPLE in a statement. He was 25 years old.

“Coast Guard watchstanders at the Arctic District command center in Juneau received notification from the fishing vessel Aleutian Lady, reporting that a crew member by the name of Todd Meadows fell overboard approximately 170 miles north of Dutch Harbor,” the statement read.

“He was recovered unresponsive by the crew approximately 10 minutes later. First aid and attempts to resuscitate were unsuccessful, and the crew transported the deceased to Dutch Harbor.”

The Coast Guard added that officials were “investigating this situation.”

The news of Meadows’ death was first announced by Capt. Rick Shelford in a lengthy tribute on Facebook March 2. The two appeared together on the Deadliest Catch, which follows the high-stakes world of crab fishing, and were being filmed for the forthcoming season of the reality show.

“February 25, 2026 was the most tragic day in the history of the Aleutian Lady on the Bering Sea,” he wrote. “We lost our brother, Todd Meadows. Todd was the newest member of our crew, he quickly became family. His love for fishing and his strong work ethic earned everyone’s respect right away. His smile was contagious, and the sound of his laughter coming up the wheelhouse stairs or over the deck hailer is something we will carry with us always.”

“Todd’s love for his children, his family, and his life was evident in everything he did,” Shelford continued. “He worked hard, loved deeply, and brought joy to those around him. Right now, our hearts are broken in a way that words can’t fully express. We ask that you lift Todd’s children and family in prayer and keep them in your thoughts as they face the days ahead without him.”

He concluded the post, which featured several photos of Meadows on the job, “Todd will forever be part of this boat, this crew, and this brotherhood. Though we lost him far too soon, his legacy will live on through his children and in every memory we carry of him. Rest easy brother, till we meet again.”

A Discovery Channel spokesperson also shared a statement with PEOPLE at the time. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Todd Meadows,” it said. “This is a devastating loss, and our hearts are with his loved ones, his crewmates, and the entire fishing community during this incredibly difficult time.”

Additionally, a GoFundMe was launched with the goal of raising money for Meadows’ family. It described him as “a beloved 25-year-old father, son, brother and friend, who left us far too soon while doing what he loved.” As of April 6, the GoFundMe had raised nearly $57,000.

“He was a determined dad to three amazing little boys who were his entire world. Everything he did was for them — their smiles, their futures, and the memories they will carry with them,” it continued. “This unimaginable loss has left his children without their father, his parents without their son, his siblings without their brother and his family broken.”

This is not the first death among the Deadliest Catch cast in recent years. In June 2024, seasoned deckhand Nick Marvar died at 59 after a “medical emergency.” In 2020, deck boss Nick McGlashan died at the age of 33. In May 2018, former Deadliest Catch captain Blake Painter was found dead in his home in Astoria, Ore. He was 38.