Nick Mavar, a revered deckhand on the Discovery Channel’s popular fishing reality series “Deadliest Catch,” died on June 13, 2024, at the age of 59. Mavar suffered a heart attack while climbing a ladder at a boatyard in Naknek, Alaska which led to a fall onto a dry dock. His wife, Julie, and the Bristol Bay Borough Police Department in Alaska later confirmed his death in a hospital in King Salmon, Alaska.
Mavar was a deckhand on the “Northwestern” fishing vessel and featured in 98 episodes of “Deadliest Catch.” He also appeared in numerous series spin-offs, including “Deadliest Catch: Legends Born & Broken” and “Deadliest Catch: Evolution of Danger.”
Mavar’s stint on the show ended in 2020 when an unexpected appendix rupture during filming uncovered a cancerous tumor. This led to a lawsuit against the vessel’s owner, Sig Hansen, alleging inadequate medical provisions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The litigation underscored a delay in Mavar’s medical examination and treatment, which his legal team alleged led to severe complications. The “Deadliest Catch” production company was subsequently implicated for their role in the protocols that delayed his care. Despite these hurdles, Mavar maintained his enthusiasm for fishing, eventually operating his own commercial salmon venture in Bristol Bay.
News of Mavar’s death has precipitated a flurry of condolences on social media from fans and fellow workers. Sig Hansen, the Northwestern’s captain, said Mavar’s death “spread through the fishing community like wildfire” due to his widespread respect and recognition.
Mavar’s career was punctuated by significant incidents, including an injury in a storm when a hook hit his face and broke his nose. This incident, along with his medical scare, was featured on the show.
Survived by his wife, Julie, and other family members, Mavar is remembered not just for his role in “Deadliest Catch,” but also for his perseverance and commitment to the fishing industry.
