‘Deadliest Catch’s Captain Keith Colburn’s Fate Finally Revealed Months After ‘Terrifying’ Viral Medical Emergency at Sea Leaves Fans Reeling

We finally know what caused the fishing captain to be airlifted on a medical evacuation flight.

With the return of Deadliest Catch for Season 21, fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief over the fate of Captain Keith Colburn.

Viewers were left with few answers after the captain of the crabbing ship F/V Wizard experienced a “terrifying” medical emergency at sea toward the end of last season, with many concerned he could have experienced a cardiac event or stroke in the middle of the Bering Sea.

By the time the season ended, fans were on the edge of their seat when the fisherman was discharged from the hospital without a concrete diagnosis. With almost complete radio silence on his social media in that time—with just a pair of brief breaks during his hiatus to acknowledge Christmas and Memorial Day—and the last update received being that a doctor had told him to remain on land, near a hospital, concern for Colburn naturally pervaded the fandom.

But with the premiere of the latest season this month came Colburn’s return to his vessel. The captain revealed that his medical team finally determined he’d had a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or a mini stroke, which meant he needed to learn to try to keep his cool. “I have to minimize my stress this year,” he explained. “I’m not flying out on a plane again.”

“You know, the most stressful job in the world is being the captain on a Bering Sea crab boat,” he continued as they recapped his health crisis. “I have to find a way to go from here,” he continued, bringing his hand from up high to down low, “down to here.”

Of course, with a broken rudder, a fight over a fuel spot, a near-collision at sea, and another crew being forced to abandon ship all in one episode, it’s hard not to let his blood get pumping, but luckily, his crew was right there with a few calming words of advice.