Deadliest Catch is a popular reality TV show that follows the lives and challenges of crab fishermen in the Bering Sea. The show has been on the air since 2005 and has won multiple Emmy awards for its thrilling and dramatic portrayal of one of the most dangerous professions in the world. However, the show has also been marred by tragedy, as several cast members have died over the years due to various causes. One of the most recent and mysterious deaths was that of Todd Kochutin, a crew member of the F/V Patricia Lee, who died in February 2021 at the age of 30. What exactly happened to Todd Kochutin on the day he died, and what was his cause of death? Here is what we know.
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A Passionate Fisherman with No Living Family
According to his obituary, Todd Kochutin was born in Anchorage, Alaska, on July 4, 1990. He grew up in Wasilla, Alaska, and graduated from Wasilla High School in 2008. He was a passionate fisherman who devoted most of his summers and winters to fishing for king crab, opilio, Pacific cod, and pollock in the Bering Sea. The obituary also stated that “the Bering Sea was a very special place near and dear to his heart.”
Todd Kochutin had no immediate living family members, as he was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Deanna; brother, Dwayne; and sister, Ayla. He was survived by his extended family and friends, who described him as a “kind, generous, and loyal person who always had a smile on his face.” He was also an avid fan of the Seattle Seahawks and enjoyed playing video games and watching movies.
A Fatal Accident on Board the F/V Patricia Lee
Todd Kochutin’s death was first announced by the Discovery Channel in a statement that read: “We are saddened to hear of the passing of Todd Kochutin, a crew member of the F/V Patricia Lee. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends during this difficult time.” However, the statement did not reveal any details about how Todd Kochutin died, leaving many fans and viewers wondering what happened to him.
His obituary only mentioned that he died “as a result of injuries sustained while on board F/V Patricia Lee.” However, a video released by Discovery UK in April 2022 showed the intensity of the situation on the ship as the crew learned of his passing. In the clip, multiple crew members learned that one of their shipmates had been injured and demanded medical attention. Captain Bill Wichrowski was told that someone on the ship required medics, and spoke to the team over his radio. Another captain, Sig Hansen, later revealed that someone may have been hit with a crab pot, which is a cage up to 800 pounds that can cause significant harm to a human. Hansen then called it a “scary, scary thought.”
The medic said the injured person was in a “lot of pain” and later, news came in that the injured person was Kochutin. Shortly after, he died on the ship. Kochutin’s loss was significant to the crew, even though the Deadliest Catch team has been through their share of crewmate injuries and deaths. One of Kochutin’s onboard friends, Landon, expressed the devastation of the dangerous career. “I can’t keep losing friends,” he said in the video.
A Controversial Claim About the Cause of Death
While the video suggested that Todd Kochutin was hit by a crab pot, a recent Reddit thread has introduced new questions from viewers as to what exactly happened to him. A user who claimed to know Todd Kochutin and to have worked on the Patricia Lee posted a comment that alleged a different cause of death. The user wrote: “Todd was not hit by a pot it’s worse. He was squeezed between the sorting table and a pole is what I was told by a crew that was there. The guy running the hydraulics pulled the lever to retract the table from the pot to the sort position and he did not check to see if it was clear and pinned Todd and crushed him.”
The user did not provide any evidence or source for this claim, and it is possible that what they were told by a fellow crew member on the Patricia Lee is incorrect. However, if this claim is true, it would imply that Todd Kochutin’s death was not an accident, but a result of negligence or carelessness by another crew member. This would also raise questions about why the Discovery Channel did not disclose the true cause of death, and whether there was any investigation or legal action taken against the responsible party.
A Tragic Loss for the Deadliest Catch Family
Regardless of the exact cause of death, Todd Kochutin’s passing was a tragic loss for the Deadliest Catch family and the fishing community. He was a young and talented fisherman who loved his job and his friends. He was also a beloved cast member who appeared in five seasons of Deadliest Catch, and who touched the hearts of many viewers with his personality and smile. He will be missed by many, and his memory will live on in the show and in the Bering Sea.
