The Wizard Loses A Crewmate! | Deadliest Catch

Heart Attack Drama and a Sudden Crew Shift Rock the Deck

The chaos began with OJ clutching his chest, grimacing in pain.

“Give me a pain level,” someone urged.
“Still an 8—no, 10,” OJ gasped.

The crew sprang into action. “Don’t breathe too deep, it’ll hurt more. Just stand still,” Keith instructed, dialing for an ambulance.

The gravity of the situation became clear. “It’s a heart attack! Hold the door open!” Keith barked as he rushed OJ to the hospital. Amid the confusion, someone radioed, “Any word on OJ?”

“No idea. He just woke up complaining about chest pain,” came the reply.

Keith provided an update: OJ’s vitals were stable, but the pain persisted. They needed a medevac. “We need to work this through—get a plane in here now.”

The crew shifted priorities. Robbie and Roger handled offloading while Keith focused on securing the medevac. Despite an initial haul worth $177,000, the crab became secondary to OJ’s health. “I don’t care how much crab is onboard right now. I’m just worried about OJ,” Keith admitted.

After stabilizing him, the medics determined Anchorage offered the best care. “We’ll get you on a plane to a fully equipped hospital,” Keith reassured OJ. “We’ll figure out the season without you if we have to.”

OJ promised, “If the doctors clear me, I’ll come back right away. Swear to God.” Keith bid him farewell with hope for a swift recovery.

A New Face Joins the Crew

With OJ en route to Anchorage, the crew faced another challenge—being a man down. Keith quickly filled the gap, convincing Tracy Poola, a seasoned fisherman, to join the team on short notice.

“We really need somebody. I’ve had moments in life when I needed help, and this is one of those moments,” Keith admitted.

Tracy, a 20-year veteran and longtime friend, was nervous but game. “I’m used to cooking in the galley,” she joked. “I just hope I don’t screw everything up.”

The crew welcomed her, albeit with some teasing. Cody quipped, “Let me show you where your panties go!” Tracy laughed, “I’m re-evaluating my life choices right now.”

Keith, meanwhile, was impressed. “I give her a lot of credit. I wouldn’t jump on a crab boat with no notice.”

As the boat left the dock, Tracy donned her new boots and readied for action. The crew rallied, determined to push forward. “We’ve got to get out there and start hauling!”

Amid challenges and uncertainty, the team pressed on—proving the resilience of life on the Bering Sea.