'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

[phyllis]

Sail on Capt Phil you will be truly missed. We all love ya....

[Denise Tarvin]

I'm very sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[Sara]

Rest In Peace Captain Phil.
You were my favorite on Deadliest Catch and I will miss you.
With love and prayers to your boys and the Cornelia Marie crew

[Eve]

RIP Captain Harris, you will be missed.
Long live your sons.

[pete]

May your waters be calm, And wind be on your back. God's speed Captain

[Doug in Toronto]

I wish I could have met him. A true stand-up guy, an honest man trying to make a honest living, doing the toughest job in the world. My sympathies to all who knew him.

[Kelly]

dont be sad look at the bright side population control!!!

[April]

Was he taking any dangerous prescription drugs before this happened, like Lipitor, or prostrate meds? This was to young to die from a stroke, something is amiss?
So sorry family of his.

[Tawna]

RIP Capt Phil. You'll be missed.

[Dan Meehan]

Phil

You were one hell of a man. I won't forget you!

-D

[Virginia Christenson]

"Captain My Captain" -An incredible tough guy with a very soft heart, light smiling eyes and strong hands. I watched to see Capt. Phil (loved his eyes) and his "no-nonsense" style. He was taken too young but lives on through his sons. He is now sailing the seas of time. Blessings to Phil's family who are suffering a great loss. He will be greatly missed! Kisses to Phil.

[Melissa Sheaffer]

I watch the deadliest catch all the time and the cornelia marie was my favorit out of all of them he will be greatly missed my heart gos out to his family

[Clarence Edwards Jr.]

I wish this family well and I hope they can continue on no matter what happens in the future. Phil was an inspiration whenever I watched this show and forever I will be changed and influenced by his diversity and perserverance. There are exactly no persons left like him and with this knowledge all people now know none of us are exactly alike and are forever different!!!!!!

[julie snyder]

R.I,P phil I thought you were the greatist. I will miss seeing you on the show.May your son's carry on your job out there in the deep blue..

[Chuckie]

Mr. Harris was one of the mainstays on "The Deadliest Catch."
Our heartfelt condolences to the Harris family.
The show will not be the same without the captain at the helm.
I am so sad after hearing this terrible news.

[D-Catch Fan]

Sail on, Captain Phil, you were my favorite part of that show.

Won't be the same without you.

Maybe Discovery will put together a special show of Phil's highlights.

[SCTom]

He was 53. worked for 32, 18 of them as Captain.

[Phone]

It was a joy and a pleasure to watch him. It's sad to see an end of an era. Bless his sons and his extended families.

[John]

To the crew and family of Captain Phil Harris,
I would like to express my deepest condolences on the news of the Captain's passing. As a longtime viewer of the "Deadliest Catch" my family and I have been inspired by the dedication and unrelenting perseverance that each member of the crew must carry. However, the captain is entrusted with the crewman's lives, livelihood and their continued success. Every man who work under this Salty-Dog owe their life to him and I hope they will toast a few drinks in celebration of his life.

I will miss Captain Phil and may he Rest In Peace.

God Bless

[Betty]

I love Phil and his boys and my heart is breaking for them. If there is anything I can do for you boys please e-mail me and I will be there. He was a great man and a great dad and captain. He loved what he did and guess dies doing what made him happy. So sorry for you loss . Betty

[Scott]

May God Bless you josh and jake. My prayers are with your family at this time. May your father RIP, and watch over you on the waters.

[brian f. hayes]

capt. phil was the man. always fair to his crew, but when the job had to be done it had to be done. jake & josh you have good reason to be proud of your father. which i am sure both of you are. if anything good could come out of this, i am glad you get to bury him on land. to be absent from the body is to be present with the lord. my prayers will be with all of you.

[aaron]

rip captain

[rob ryan]

That sucks, Phil was my favorite on the show and his sons Jake and Josh remind me of me and my twin brother Rex (Head Coach of the NY Jets) when we were young and full piss and vinegar. We have a famous father (Buddy) and I always admired the Harris family for its tight bond to each other and its genuine toughness. A Great Loss today but cheers to the boys to carry on the great legacy left from their Father.

[Marie Ramsey]

This is very sad, this man was younger than my husband is (my husband is several years senior to me), but he looked about 10 yrs. older than his stated age of 53. It's a hard life these (mostly), men lead. I think that they risk death so often that they neglect their health almost to the point of doing everything possible to hasten it. The way all of those captains drink coffee and chain smoke, I doubt many of them see their 60th birthday, assuming they survive to retire from the world's most dangerous profession to begin with. This must be a difficult day for everyone who loved him. He was a very unique man and my condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues.