Goodbye, Captain.

Fans of Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch would be disappointed to learn the death of their favourite captain, Phil Harris – the captain of the crab fishing vessel Cornelia Maria on that show.

R.I.P Captain Phil Harris (third from left)

Phil passed away on Tuesday evening due to complications from the stroke he suffered while in port off-loading at St. Paul Island in Alaska, US last month.

Extra TV has the statement released by the network.

“He was 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. We share our tremendous sadness over this loss with the millions of viewers who followed Phil’s every move. We send our thoughts and prayers to Phil’s sons Josh and Jake and the Cornelia Marie crew.”

The site also carried the statement released by the captain’s sons:  “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.”

FYI, R.AGE sub-editor Melody L. Goh had interviewed Phil before and is deeply saddened by his demise.

She tweeted:

“ i met him! he had a golf pendant shaped like a crab. RIP cap’n.”

“gold pendant. oops. he also drove around in a red corvette or one of those American sports cars.”