For those of you who read this blog on a regular basis know I am a big fan of reality TV. Well one of the greats has passed on.
Captain Phil Harris of the F/V Cornelia Marie died on Tuesday after suffering a stroke on board his vessel whist working the deck. Captain Harris was a young 53 and suffered some health problems last season on the Discovery Channel Show Deadliest Catch.
Capt Phil, Rest in Peace!
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A spokesman for The Discovery Channel says the captain of the “Deadliest Catch” fishing vessel Cornelia Marie has died.
Capt. Phil Harris suffered what his family described as a massive stroke on Jan. 29 while the boat was in port at St. Paul Island, Alaska. The 53-year-old fisherman was flown to Anchorage for surgery.
A Discovery spokesman says the Harris family contacted the network Tuesday evening with word of his death.
Discovery Channel spokeswoman Elizabeth Hillman issued a statement on behalf of sons Jake and Josh Harris. It says in part, “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.”
In the network’s own statement, Hillman says, “We will miss his straightforward honesty, wicked sense of humor and enormous heart.”
In an e-mail she said no additional information was immediately available.
The Discovery Channel reality show depicts the crab fishing industry in the dangerous waters off Alaska. Harris’ fishing vessel was based in Seattle.
