The Worst Injury in ‘Deadliest Catch’ – A Defining Moment Revealing a Pain No One Wants to Talk About

It’s not called Deadliest Catch for nothing! Over the past 20 seasons, viewers have tuned in for the adrenaline rush that comes with the hit Discovery Channel series. Capturing the lives of crabbers in the Bering Sea, Deadliest Catch exposes the high-stakes world the men and women put themselves through to achieve their quota and make a living. But it’s certainly not fun and games. Oh, no. Deadliest Catch has played host to some of television’s most harrowing and gruesome injuries that truly expose the dangers out on the high seas.

Deadliest Catch’ Nearly Witnessed History Repeating Itself

An unthinkable injury occurred during the second episode of Season 18, “Crushed at Sea.” With the Bering Sea being unpredictable, the crews on the various fishing vessels have to be prepared for the worst at any moment. Choppy waters are inevitable, but it’s not always the elements that pose a threat – heavy machinery can play a role too. Led by Captain Rip Carlton, Fishing Vessel Patricia Lee experienced a rogue wave that caused a crab pot to shift, leaving crew member Francis Katungin crushed against the pot and a railing. Being trapped, Captain Rip raced to the scene to assess the situation, visibly shaken, fearful of another fatality. Even Deadliest Catch producer Todd Stanley jumped in on camera to provide first aid.

The entire crew rushed to bring Francis inside to safety as he dealt with incredible pain. Believing it could be a life-threatening injury, including a broken hip and a shattered pelvis, Captain Rip called in for a medical evacuation, revealing that he was “devastated.” The problem with the unpredictable waters is that getting an injured individual to safety is not always possible.

With the rough waters growing, it became difficult for the Coast Guard to get the helicopter in place to lower the rescue team and then safely lift Francis. Thankfully, F/V Patricia Lee was able to meet the Coast Guard helicopter to complete the rescue and send Francis off for medical attention. As Captain Rip said, “You gotta do the best job you can. My best job is to get this boat to a safe spot for the Coast Guard to get Francis off, which is not gonna be easy.”

But perhaps the most emotional moment of the entire ordeal was hearing from the injured Francis, saying, “I just want to finish this trip. Finish this f—ing season… This is where I like being is right here. This is what I love doing.” It was a completely terrifying incident, one that rocked the crew and viewers alike.

‘Deadliest Catch’ Has a History of Injury and a Death

A major reason this incident had the entire crew in complete terror was the sense of déjà vu. Just a year prior, crew member Todd Kochutin was killed after suffering a similar incident on board F/V Patricia Lee. The incident was captured while filming Deadliest Catch, but was only shared through reactions from other captains and crew members.

His obituary eventually revealed that his death was “a result of injuries sustained while on board F/V Patricia Lee.” Having lost a crew member while working at sea caused immense trauma for Captain Rip when he witnessed another one of his staff suffer. Many Deadliest Catch stars have reiterated, including Landon Cheney, who said, “I can’t keep losing friends.”

There’s no doubt that Deadliest Catch is one of the most dangerous programs on television. Even with accusations that the show may be fake or scripted, it’s incidents like this that illuminate the danger attached to this profession. The death of Todd Kochutin and the injuries of Francis Katungin completely rocked F/V Patricia Lee, and the risk of history repeating itself is utterly terrifying. It puts everyone on edge, and further precautions have been implemented to ensure everyone’s safety. But when it comes to the weather conditions and rogue waves, there’s only so much preparation a crew can do. Being vigilant and completely aware of your surroundings is crucial for safety.

Deadliest Catch has had its fair share of gruesome and harrowing injuries. From Captain Keith Colburn being knocked in the head by a nearly 500-ton boat to Taylor Jensen‘s array of injuries over the years, Cody Rhodes‘ broken leg to Mike Vanderveldt losing part of his fingertip, injuries on Deadliest Catch sometimes simply cannot be avoided. And when the cameras are rolling, viewers are destined to witness it all. Thankfully, it also captures the safety procedures that are in place to ensure that, should an injury occur, the victims of circumstance are in the most capable hands.