Phil Harris, captain on Discovery Channel show, dies

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Phil Harris, captain of the ‘Deadliest Catch’ fishing vessel Cornelia Marie, has died, a spokeswoman for the Discovery Channel said Tuesday.

Harris suffered what his family described as a massive stroke Jan. 29 while the boat was in port at St. Paul Island, Alaska. He was flown to Anchorage for surgery. A Discovery spokesman said the Harris family contacted the network Tuesday evening with word of his death.

Few details were released. The Discovery Channel’s Elizabeth Hillman issued a statement on behalf of Harris’ sons, Jake and Josh, saying their father had ‘always been a fighter and continued to be until the end.’

The show depicts the crab fishing industry off Alaska. Harris’ vessel was based in Seattle.

-- Associated Press