What Happened To Mahlon Reyes From Deadliest Catch?
The captains on Discovery's "Deadliest Catch" are often front and center, achieving a certain amount of celebrity. But one could argue the deckhands are the real lifeblood of the show. Mahlon Reyes was one such deckhand. He made his "Deadliest Catch" debut in Season 8, and between 2012 and 2020, he appeared in 14 episodes of the docuseries.
On July 27, 2020, it was reported that Reyes died from a heart attack. A few months later, the sheriff and the coroner at the Flathead County Sheriff's Office confirmed to USA Today that the cause of death was acute cocaine intoxication.
Initially a greenhorn on the F/V Seabrooke, Reyes later worked on the F/V Cape Caution, followed by the F/V Summer Bay in Season 16. In the Season 16 episode "Bering Sea Crash," the crew is battling fatigue from a relentless storm, with veteran captain "Wild" Bill Wichrowski even falling asleep at the wheel. Reyes sustains a nasty injury to his Achilles tendon and needs to go back to shore for medical attention. It would be Reyes' final appearance on the series.
Reyes died in his hometown of Whitefish, Montana. His ashes were scattered in the nearby Swan Range mountains, as well as the Bering Sea. He is survived by his wife, Heather Sullivan, and four children. "I am in awe of the people that he touched just by his positive attitude and smile," Sullivan said in the same USA Today piece. "He was my rock and I was his."
Substance abuse is an insidious problem on Deadliest Catch
Mahlon Reyes may not have been as famous as his captain counterparts, but he used his small amount of celebrity for good. In 2014, he partnered with his local Montana radio station, 106.3 The Bear, to answer phone calls in support of St. Jude Children's Hospital. On X, formerly known as Twitter, he even shouted out his "Deadliest Catch" co-stars Casey McManus and Nick McGlashan for making donations.
Many of Reyes' posts reference McGlashan, whom he refers to as one of his favorite people in the world. When Reyes passed away, McGlashan, the Summer Bay deck boss, began wearing his late friend's initials on his back.
Tragically, McGlashan died of a drug overdose five months after Reyes. He was outspoken about his history of addiction. In 2017, he briefly left "Deadliest Catch" to seek treatment, but he ultimately succumbed to his illness.
"Deadliest Catch" highlights the risks of working at sea, but the show has also illuminated the prevalence of drug abuse among fishermen. Former F/V Maverick captain Blake Painter died in 2018, four months after he was charged with unlawful possession of heroin. Captains Jake Anderson and Elliot Neese were also candid about their struggles with substance abuse. The latter left the show during Season 11 to enter a rehab facility.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).