Bad news being reported this morning - Captain Phil Harris of the hit show "Deadliest Catch" has died.Harris was rushed to the hospital two weeks ago after a massive stroke in late January, but had been improving over the last week. The actor was 53 years old and died in a hospital in Alaska.
According to the ship's Web site, "Cornelia Marie", Phil Harris began fishing at age seven and started working on the big rigs by age seventeen.
When Harris turned twenty-one he managed a fishing boat out of Seattle, making him one of the youngest captains on the Bering Sea during the lucrative opilio crab season.
Harris' kids released a statement:
"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 the crew, and us he was someone who never backed down. We will remember and celebrate that strength. Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers."
"Deadliest Catch", which has ran for five seasons, is one of the Discovery Channel's most popular hits and portrays the commercial opilio crab fishing industry in the dangerous waters off Alaska.
Watch Captain Phil Harris Take Command Of His Ship Cornelia Marie
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