By BRIAN MARKS, US ASSISTANT SHOWBUSINESS EDITOR and T. ZELLER - DAILY MAIL REPORTER and JUSTIN ENRIQUEZ, US ASSISTANT SHOWBIZ EDITOR
Deadliest Catch star Todd Meadows allegedly suffered a traumatic brain injury at work just weeks before his untimely death at 25.
According to TMZ, Meadows's mother, Angela Meadows, said he had been taken off work on medical leave before he was given the OK to return weeks before he fell overboard from the fishing vessel Aleutian Lady in the treacherous Bering Sea on February 25.
Meadows's death remains under investigation by the US Coast Guard.
According to the publication, Meadows's mother said he had taken a blow to the head about a month ago while on the Aleutian Lady.
In line with injury protocols, he saw a doctor who allegedly determined that he had suffered a concussion, a form of traumatic brain injury that occurs when the brain suddenly moves or twists within the skull, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Discovery+ and Angela Meadows for comment but has not yet received a response.
Meadows's mother, Angela Meadows, told TMZ that her son suffered a head injury about a month ago on the job. He was placed on medical leave, and a doctor allegedly determined he had suffered a concussion.
Meadows's mother said he was flown back to Washington to recover for around a week, which marked the final time that she and her family saw him before his death.
'The last photo I got of him was when he was building a fire. He was listening to music in the moment and was so happy,' she said. 'That's how I want to remember him.'
According to TMZ, Angela Meadows said her son was looking forward to getting back to work after he was cleared to return.
She allegedly said that her family doesn't place blame on Deadliest Catch for Meadows's concussion.
Earlier on Wednesday, it was reported that cameras for Deadliest Catch were rolling when Meadows fell overboard from the fishing vessel Aleutian Lady.
While speaking to TMZ, his mother said their family does not want any footage of the fatal incident to be aired.
'We don't want to see any footage from the accident and do not want Discovery to air any of that footage or make money off of our son's death,' she told the publication. 'We hope they only air good things of Todd on that boat.'
Instead, she revealed the family has asked for clips of Todd crabbing at sea so they can remember him doing what he loved and 'have the videos for memories.'
Angela Meadows said Todd's week back in Washington was the last time his family saw him alive. After a week, he was allegedly cleared to return to work, where he later fell overboard from the fishing vessel Aleutian Lady.
'We don't want to see any footage from the accident and do not want Discovery to air any of that footage or make money off of our son's death,' she told TMZ on Wednesday;
As the Coast Guard continues to investigate what happened, the family says they are still waiting for clear answers - though Angela shared she has been assured her son did not suffer in his final moments.
While she stressed they are not looking to point fingers, she made clear the family expects accountability.
'We don't want to put the blame on anyone, but someone has to take responsibility. We will have justice for Todd,' she told the outlet.
She also expressed hope that production crews did not simply stand by and film as the horrifying events unfolded.
Angela said she and Todd's father Luke are trying to stay strong but insist they 'want answers' as the investigation continues.
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Discovery for comment and has yet to hear back.
Todd Meadows was just 25 years old at the time of his death and leaves behind three young sons.
A GoFundMe launched to support the boys has already raised more than $30,000.
Her comments come after Todd's bunkmate, Trey John Green III, revealed that cameras were indeed rolling when the tragedy occurred.
'We don't want to put the blame on anyone, but someone has to take responsibility. We will have justice for Todd,' Meadows said.
Green recalled the incident which took his shipmate's life as he said 'unfortunately [it] ended in tragedy' and that the crew 'did everything we could to save him' after he fell overboard according to UsWeekly.
He added that when you are out at sea, trying to save someone's life is 'no easy task' as he also called Meadows an 'amazing human.'
Many have wondered if Meadows' tragic death was filmed for season 22 of Deadliest Catch and Green confirmed that it was.
'Discovery is done filming,' Green said. 'There was a producer and a deck cam guy on the boat for the past two months filming for season 22 of the show. It was filmed, unfortunately.'
The reality star did say that he is unsure what Discovery Channel will ultimately do with the footage.
Season 22 of Deadliest Catch has completed filming with The Aleutian Lady being the last of the vessels featured still at sea.
Green also claimed that the crew aboard the fishing vessel are taking some time off to go home and mourn the death of their fellow fisherman but will ultimately return to resume filming the reality show.
Meadows had fallen overboard from the fishing vessel Aleutian Lady on the Bering Sea on February 25, 2026 as his death is currently being investigated by the US Coast Guard, Daily Mail has confirmed
The coast guard rep said: 'He was recovered unresponsive by the crew approximately ten minutes later. First aid and attempts to resuscitate were unsuccessful, and the crew transported the deceased to Dutch Harbor'
This comes after harrowing new details over Meadows' death were revealed.
An 'unresponsive' Meadows was recovered by the ship's crew approximately ten minutes after falling overboard but 'attempts to resuscitate were unsuccessful.'
Meadows's deceased body was then transported to Dutch Harbor and received at the Anchorage Medical Examiner's office in Alaska on February 27, a source told TMZ.
An autopsy was performed and Meadows's body was released on March 2.
A representative for the US Coast Guard released a statement to Daily Mail which read: 'On February 25, 2026, at 5:05 PM local Alaska time, Coast Guard watchstanders at the Arctic District command center in Juneau received notification from the fishing vessel Aleutian Lady, reporting that a crew member by the name of Todd Meadows fell overboard approximately 170 miles north of Dutch Harbor.
'He was recovered unresponsive by the crew approximately ten minutes later. First aid and attempts to resuscitate were unsuccessful, and the crew transported the deceased to Dutch Harbor.'
The US Coast Guard continued: 'The Coast Guard is currently investigating this situation. As the nation's leading marine safety organization, the Coast Guard investigates marine casualties and accidents to uncover their causes and initiate necessary corrective actions.'
The Aleutian Lady is a 125-foot commercial fishing vessel which specializes in King Crab, Bairdi, Opilio, and cod fishing in the Bering Sea
The aforementioned star of the Discovery Channel reality show Captain Shelford first made the sad announcement on his Facebook page on Monday morning.
Meadows had passed away aboard the Aleutian Lady on Wednesday in what Captain Shelford has called 'the most tragic day in the history' of the vessel. He was a father to three boys.
A representative for the Discovery Channel provided a statement to Daily Mail over Meadows' death which read: 'We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Todd Meadows.'
'This is a devastating loss, and our hearts are with his loved ones, his crewmates, and the entire fishing community during this incredibly difficult time.'
Captain Shelford revealed in his tribute post that Meadows was the newest member of the crew and quickly became family through his strong work ethic earning the respect of everyone on the team quickly.
He continued his post by writing: 'His smile was contagious; and the sound of his laughter coming up the wheelhouse stairs or over the deck hailer is something we will carry with us always.'
'Todd’s love for his children; his family; and his life was evident in everything he did. He worked hard; loved deeply; and brought joy to those around him.'
The star of the Discovery Channel reality show Captain Shelford made the sad announcement on his Facebook page on Monday morning
Meadows had passed away aboard the Aleutian Lady on Wednesday in what Captain Shelford has called 'the most tragic day in the history' of the vessel
A memo had been sent to Deadliest Catch producers informing them of the incident and providing them with resources to help deal with grieving, according to sources for TMZ.
Captain Shelford continued in his statement by writing: 'Right now, our hearts are broken in a way that words can't fully express.'
'We ask that you lift Todd's children and family in prayer and keep them in your thoughts as they face the days ahead without him.'
Though Meadows' time on the boat was brief, Captain Shelford concluded his tribute by declaring that he made a massive impact on the boat and crew.
He wrote: 'Todd will forever be part of this boat, this crew, and this brotherhood. Though we lost him far too soon, his legacy will live on through his children and in every memory we carry of him.'