'Deadliest Catch' captain Phil Harris dies after recent stroke

Phil Harris, captain of the Cornelia Marie on the Discovery Channel show "Deadliest Catch," has died at age 53.

On the show's Web page, where updates on Harris' condition had been posted since his Jan. 30 stroke, sons Jake and Josh Harris gave notice of their father's passing:

 "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. For us and the crew, he was someone who never backed down. We will remember and celebrate that strength. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers. -- Jake and Josh Harris"

Harris, who was based out of Seattle, suffered the stroke during an offload of crab. He was found unconscious in a stateroom, was airlifted to Anchorage for 12 hours of surgery, then placed in a medically induced coma. He'd shown signs of improvement last week, squeezing hands and even telling his doctors and nurses, in his signature gruff style, to not screw things up.

"Deadliest Catch" follows several crews working the Bering Sea during the area's crab fishing seasons. Harris, a fisherman for 32 years, was a co-owner of the Cornelia Marie, which he'd captained for 18 years; Jake and Josh work on the ship as deck hands, and Josh had remained on the ship immediately after his dad's stroke, awaiting the arrival of relief captain to continue the work. 

Fans reached out Tuesday night on the show's message boards -- where comments have been posted since Phil Harris fell ill -- offering condolences to the family.

Discovery Channel in its statement referred to Harris as "more than someone on our television screen. Phil was a devoted father and loyal friend to all who knew him. We will miss his straightforward honesty, wicked sense of humor and enormous heart."

[Updated, 10:25 p.m.: Inspired by commenter Maurice, I embedded a song below. "Sail On, Sailor," by the Beach Boys./cdz]

[Updated, 11:29 p.m., Feb. 10: Inspired by commenter Richard Proctor, I embedded another song below. "Ashokan Farewell." Good tune, Richard; beautiful, and so sad./cdz]

[Updated, 1:14 p.m., Feb. 12: Phil Harris will be seen again in the upcoming season of "Deadliest Catch," though producers aren't sure how the series will handle his death. The Ministry's new post also includes a little bit about how his desire for a cool car got the captain on those fishing boats in the first place.]

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Capt. Phil Harris with sons Josh, left, and Jake, right. Credit: Discovery Channel.

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Comments

[CDZ from the Ministry]

@Michelle -- Christie D'Zurilla again from the blog.

My reaction to Maurice's comment was the same as yours! It just seemed to be the perfect thought for the moment. Right after I added the YouTube, I OK'd your comment and thought, "Yeah -- I'm not the only one."

;)

//cdz

[Suzanne]

Memory Eternal for Capt. Phil,

Although I am not a fisherman, just a humble, poor (starving) artist, I really enjoyed this show. As an artist, I have a great love for the sea, and really loved Capt. Phil when he was on TV, for the "realism" he gave to the concept of a life at sea. I used to tune in to get his "take" on the sea, before I attempted seascape paintings of whatever kind. I always felt that he was exactly who he "was" on screen and that WYSIWYG. I deeply "felt" his respect for and zest of life and will never be able to look at my own paintings without thinking of him. God bless Capt. Phil, wherever he may sail next, and his beloved family left ashore. May God guide them, and him, into safe harbor, wherever that may be.

Please accept my heartfelt prayers for your father, your wonderful friend, Captain, shipmate and seafarer of the 21st century.

Your friend and neighbor,
Suzanne

[Jayme Dalry-Swansen]

I am so sorry to hear of your terrible loss. My thoughts and payers are with you all. I only ad the chance to spend an afternoon with Phil but what a hecka nice guy he was!!! Take care you boys and stick together you need each other right now more than ever!!!!!

[erik_b]

So sad he was the only reson that I watched the show

[Trevor]

I feel the passing of Phil very deeply. It seemed as if we all knew him, like he was our personal friend. We had had been rooting for him when he first went into the hospital for tests and we celebrated with him when he came back and reclaimed his chair. Then again our prayers went out to him when he suffered his stroke and our hearts were lifted when it was reported that he was responding and doing well. Now our hearts go out to Jake and Josh as they continue the legacy that Captain Phil trained them for. RIP Captain Phil. You earned it. Your legacy is in good hands, and you will be sorely missed.

[Gabe]

After Reading all the posts there is nothing much more i can say but my prayers are with the family and friends to get through this tragic time. Personally i have not lost a parent so i wouldnt know how Jake and Josh are feeling but i have lost loved ones and i can feel there pain so Rest In Peace Captain Phil Harris great fisherman, loving father, and honest friend you will be missed...

[Nancy Wire]

We began watching Deadliest Catch for the entertainment. Very quickly, though, the Captain and crew of the Cornelia Marie became real people with real hearts and they touched ours. We feel as if we've lost a dear friend. So young and such a loss. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family and friends and there must be many. What more can one ask for an epitaph...Greatly loved and greatly missed. God speed, Captain Phil.

[Torrie]

Captain Phil was my favorite of all the captains. He made the show what it is with his unique personality. Had it not have been for him, I would not have watched. I am very saddened and feel sorry for his boys. Living on cigarettes and coffee and little food and sleep just doesn't do a body good. I was worried for his health every time I watched the show. RIP Phil. Be strong Phil's family.

[JR Timmons]

RIP you will be missed

[Sandy Keys]

RIP Phil, You will be missed by many! The Keys family loved & faithfully watched every season! It won't be the same without you.....Your family is in our Thoughts & Prayers. Thank you for letting us be a part of your adventures!

[hull]

i just read the new's and still can not believe it. my family's thought's and prayer's go out to the harris family. it has been a very emotional year for us so we can understand. god speed sailor

[Rhonda Bekins]

Dear Jake, Josh, and Harris family,

I am so sad to learn the news this night of Phil's passing. I am in shock and can't believe it. I live in Ballard (Seattle) and know several men who work at sea. I am so sorry for the pain you are feeling. I always enjoy/ed watching you guys on Deadliest Catch.
My most sincere condolenses,
Rhonda

[Tammy]

So sorry to hear this news. It's very sad. RIP Captain Phil.

[Jim Marquardt]

Phil was a great guy in a a field of hard working family men; they live hard and work hard and their heart and ability to be real and just be themselves has captured millions around the world. Phil will be missed but never forgotten.

[Keri Rust]

To Jake and Josh Harris I will dearly miss your father he was one of a kind and allowed all who watched the show to share a little bit of his world.My thoughts are with you both.

[bob]

Condolences to Jake and Josh

I think I am going to quit smoking in his honour, treat my body and my life better. I dont want to be on my way out before I am 60.

[joanne ruschman]

I am terribly saddend by the news . Our prayers are with Josh and Jake and the Cornelia marie family. Captain Phil will be missed.

[Barbara]

So sorry to hear about Captain Harris, he will turely be missed by everyone. My prayers go out to family and friends. God-Bless u all.

[Melissa Moore]

I was so very saddened to hear of Phil's passing. He seemed to be such a strong, yet "teddy bear" of a man. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Captain Phil will be greatly missed.

[Sam Berry]

To the one who looked at the open sea
Only too feel the ecstasy of being free
Family always close and tight
The ocean breeze kept him on his feet to fight
Laid to rest after your last breath taken
You can open eyes and see the never ending horizon

Rest in Peace Captain, your legacy will always live on

[Petra Vos]

I'm speechless. What can you say about such sad news? My thoughts & prayers go out to the family & loved ones. RIP, keep an eye on the boys&boat from above. Thank you Phil, for allowing us into your life.

[CDZ from the Ministry]

Hey all -- Christie D'Zurilla here from the blog. I'm heading to bed now (a little before 1 a.m. PST), so there's unfortunately going to be a lull in approving comments. Please, though, keep them coming and we'll make them live as soon as we can in the morning.

It might seem as if your comment zaps off to nowhere, but they just stack up on my side of the Internet and wait for me to hit "publish."

Great to see such heartfelt thoughts coming from all over -- a nice reminder that people really do care about each other, and about life.

//cdz

[Crystel]

i still can't believe everything i've been reading... still hope to read somewhere that they've confused him with someone else... thoughts and prayers to the family... he's loved and missed by so many... R.I.P ~♥~Captain~♥~Phil~♥~

and about the age confusion... hes 53...

[he Bruneaus]

So sorry to hear about Captain Phils passing. He was our favorite and he will be sadly missed. To his family, you could see how much he loved his boys. We know that you will keep his spirit alive. May God bless you all in this very difficult time.

[volkrt]

Rest well and in Peace Captain......you will be missed