Justin Tennison of 'Deadliest Catch' Dead at 33

By Zach Dionne Posted Feb 23rd 2011 05:33PM

'Deadliest Catch' star Justin Tennison was found dead in a Homer, Alaska, hotel room on Tuesday, TMZ reports. The fisherman on the Time Bandit boat was 33 years old.

"Discovery Channel is saddened by the passing of Time Bandit crew member Justin Tennison," the 'Deadliest Catch' network wrote in a statement. "We send our sympathies to his entire family and fellow crew members during this most difficult time."

TMZ says a search of the hotel room, registered to Tennison, turned up "a small amount of marijuana, as well as several bottles of alcohol in the refrigerator. Cops tell us they believe there had been a party in the room the night before."

Justin Tennison's death comes just a year after 'Deadliest Catch' star Capt. Phil Harris' passing in February 2010 after a stroke.

Lt. Randy Rosencrans tells USA Today that Tennison died of unknown causes and the state medical examiner's office was set to conduct an autopsy Wednesday afternoon.

Time Bandit Capt. Andy Hillstrand wrote on Facebook:

Justin fished commercially for many years, living in Alaska for 28 years. He worked on the Time Bandit, alongside his second cousin, Eddie Uwekoolani, Jr., serving as Engineer during the tendering seasons, and joined the Time Bandit crew as a deckhand fishing the Red King 2010 and Opilio 2011 seasons.

Justin was tough as a bull and was an all-around good hand. The Captains and Crew appreciated his hard work and many contributions this past year. We will miss him terribly and wish his family all the best during this most difficult time.

EW notes that Tennison's boat has started a memorial on the Time Bandit's official website. There, family and friends have begun sharing memories and condolences.

Tags: Deadliest Catch, Justin Tennison

Comments

(155)

Wednesday 23 February

By Janet

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I send my deepest sympathy. Yet another life, gone toomearly. RIP Justin.

By One More

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Must have been a good party!

Thursday 24 February

By Rob

Star? This was his 1st year on their boat.

By nbart

Those guys are a hard living bunch, who are all doomed to die young. Anybody who watched the tribute to Captain Phil knows what kind of excess they indulge in.

By boozerwilson

Fishermen along with loggers have the highest mortality rate among all workers. I knew a woman once who was married to one of these guys who was on a boat out of Washington, and she never was sure when she kissed her husband goodbye in the morning whether she would ever see him alive again. My hat's off to these guys, and the next time you order a seafood dinner, remember that someone may have died to get it for you.

By CommonOnes

We all feel sad about this.

Why did you find it necessary to mention a little pot and some alcohol?

By Tom

Why not mention it. Marijuana potentiates with alcohol whch means that 1 joint and one drink could equal the equivalent of 5 or ten drinks. In other words he could very well have overdosed. So, it's important to the story. Had the Marijauna and alcohol not been mentioned it's likely many readers like myself would have felt that the writer was trying to deliberately hide something. So,suck it up.

By Kev

Your guess is as good as mine.
Oneday the world will learn that pot is no big deal.
I tried it a few times in high school found it wasn't for me. But still I know lots who smoke some....Big Deal

By undrgrndgirl

@tom...NO cannabis does NOT "potentiate" alcohol...or the other way round for that matter...cannabis works on the limbic system (which is why it CAN'T kill), alcohol on the other hand works on the central nervous system (which is why it CAN - and DOES - kill)...

By Don

Hey Tom, try not to make up statistics in your haste to sound like you know what you are talking about, which you obviously dont. It is impossible to "overdose" on marijuana, and your statistic was pulled right out of your posterior, as no doubt are most of your other opinions. Suck that.

By Wolfman

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Because it was there

By diane

Why not?

By Nancy

how many people in the WORLD have a little pot in the room, and a couple of bottles of alcohol in their refrigerator? I neither drink nor smoke pot, but this sounds to me as if someone's trying to distance themselves from him...

By louiselee68

Hey Tom if you think he over dosed on pot you must be smokin something mind altering,CRACK or PCP?

By Roman

When they find me dead I hope i am lucky enough to have ten joints, and a half empty bottle of Jack in the room. To those who feel the need to judge that I pity you because my life has been a true adventure.The bottom line is DON'T KNOCK IT TILL YOU TRY IT!

REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND! I ENVY YOU!!

By sikk

@..... Tom.... you cannot overdose on marijuana... alcohol yes but not marijuana...

By Kenny

Marijuana does NOT potentiate alcohol. And Cannabis has NEVER been responsible for an OD. Get your facts straight. (To the guy that replied)

By Seakinyounger

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Maybe the "Pot" was laced, and or alcohol poisening!

By Geri

it wasn't the marijuana-- nobody dies from pot, you may put on weight, but- don't blame the pot.
I grew to know Captain Phil Harris as family watching deadliest catch, I've lost a friend when he died. RIP Phil Harris, everyone's friend

By Darren

Phil had the persona he was tough as nails, however i feel he was the kind he would give you the shirt off his back if need be. RIP Captain Phil

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