Fisherman’s Back Is Crushed By A Hydraulic Sorting Table I Deadliest Catch

Relentless Grind: The Wizard Crew’s Final Push

Out on the unforgiving Bering Sea, Captain Keith Colburn’s long journey north is finally paying off. With nearly 400 counts per pot, the fishing grounds are proving fruitful. However, time is running short—only two days remain before their scheduled offload. The crew of the Wizard must push themselves to the limit to fill the tanks before the deadline.

For 12 days, the crew has been on a relentless grind—hauling gear, battling ice, and racing against the clock. The grueling conditions take their toll, leaving the men physically and mentally drained. Fatigue is not just an inconvenience; it’s a dangerous adversary in an environment where one wrong move can mean disaster. As Captain Colburn urges the team forward, they must dig deep, entering “crab mode,” where exhaustion, hunger, and pain are ignored in favor of getting the job done.

Disaster Strikes

Just as the crew fights to keep up the pace, disaster strikes. A moment of miscalculation during the operation leaves crew member Roger crushed by the hydraulic sorting table. The sheer force pins him down with crippling pressure, leaving his fate uncertain. Panic spreads among the crew as they rush to assess his condition, terrified of making a fatal mistake in moving him.

The boat, already battered by harsh conditions, is now filled with an eerie tension. The moment stretches as Roger lays still, his breathing labored. The crew cautiously eases him inside, each movement measured and deliberate to prevent further injury. His pain is evident, but the full extent of the damage remains unknown. “That could have easily crushed him and broken his back in ten spots,” one of the crew members murmurs, shaken by how close they came to tragedy.

The Final Push

Despite the setback, the Wizard must continue hauling. The schedule is relentless, and the sea shows no mercy. Every lost minute puts them further behind, and with Roger down, the workload is even heavier. Crew member Lenny, already nursing old wounds, refuses to falter. He is the embodiment of the old-school fisherman—hardened by years of battle against the sea. Though pain courses through his body with every movement, he works through it, pushing past human limits.

As the final pots come aboard, the crew’s exhaustion is palpable. Each man is running on fumes, sustained only by sheer willpower and determination. Captain Colburn knows they are at their breaking point but also understands they cannot afford to stop. “We won’t know the full extent of Roger’s injury until we get to town,” he says, worry laced in his voice. The looming uncertainty adds weight to the already crushing burden on their shoulders.

The season is almost over, but the sea does not grant an easy exit. Every wave, every gust of wind reminds them of the cost of this life. The Wizard’s crew pushes forward, knowing that beyond the exhaustion, beyond the injuries, beyond the hardships—they have a job to finish. The Bering Sea takes its toll, but it also breeds men who refuse to break.

One last push. Then, and only then, will this grueling crab season come to an end.