Deadliest Catch star’s final words to his children moments before his death

Just a few moments before he fell overboard and died, Deadliest Catch star Todd Meadows spoke to his children and told them to “be safe”.

Show producers have spoken about what happened before and after Meadows fell off the Aleutian Lady into the freezing Bering Sea and revealed the star had spoken to his children just moments before his death.

In scenes that aired on the finale of season 22 last week, viewers find out that 25-year-old Meadows had a FaceTime call with his family during which he promised his son they’d go on a salmon fishing trip once he returned home.

His young daughter tells him at one point during the call: “I hope you’re being safe.

“If you’re not being safe, you better be safe,” she added.

“Oh, I’m being safe,” Meadows replied.

Moments after that call, he fell to his death.

Todd Meadows was the newest member of the Aleutian Lady crew. Photo / Paige Knutson

During a confessional, he had told producers that joining the crew had been one of his “dreams and goals”.

“That’s why I’m up here to make it and to try to support my family,” he said.

Meadows, whose children were only aged 1, 2 and 4 at the time, said it was “a heart-wrencher” to work on the boat away from family because his youngest don’t understand why he is gone.

The confessional scene aired during the finale just before the show aired the moments right after he fell into the sea, showing the crew’s desperate attempts to rescue him.

Todd Meadows died while fishing on the Bering Sea. Photo / Rick Shelford

The 25-year-old died of “drowning with probable hypothermia” and “submersion of body in cold water,” according to his death certificate.

Deadliest Catch is set in the Bering Sea between Alaska and Russia, one of the most dangerous places in the world to fish, according to National Geographic. In winter, the water temperature goes below freezing, the air nears -10C and the boats are buffeted by howling winds.