TV NEWS
Deadliest Catch: Johnathan Hillstrand Had A Hard Time With S19's Emotional Funeral-At-Sea
By SAMANTHA BAMBINO
The reality TV show "Deadliest Catch" might focus on the action and adventure of life on the Bering Sea, but it's easy to forget that these crab fishermen are real individuals.
A prime example comes in Season 19 when Johnathan Hillstrand finds the strength and courage to help deckhand Jesse McCollum scatter the ashes of his later father, Mike.
For Hillstrand, this funeral-at-sea was extremely difficult because he considered Mike, an engineer on the Time Bandit who he knew from high school, his best friend.
In Episode 7, Hillstrand says, "I've just been putting it off because it's so emotional for me." When his deckhand began experiencing restless nights, he knew it was time.
Hillstrand says in the episode, "Jesse, I love your dad. He's my best friend, this is hard to do. I'm sorry this took me this long. I haven't had the courage to do it …"