Captain Keith Colburn in Tears After Deckhand Trapped in Fire on F/V Wizard

In a heart-stopping moment from Season 20 of Deadliest Catch, Captain Keith Colburn was brought to tears after a fire broke out aboard the F/V Wizard, trapping deckhand Tyler Gateman below deck. The incident, captured in an episode aired in 2024, unfolded 25 miles north of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, as the Wizard crew pursued a migrating school of red king crab in a reopened fishery. The dramatic rescue, coupled with Colburn’s emotional response, underscored the life-or-death stakes of crab fishing in the Bering Sea, leaving fans shaken and highlighting the veteran captain’s deep sense of responsibility for his crew.

A Routine Task Turns Catastrophic

The crisis began during a routine fishing operation in a crab-rich gully. Captain Keith, a seasoned fisherman with over 35 years of experience, was strategically setting and hauling test pots equipped with temperature sensors to track the crab migration. “We’re in dials right now,” Colburn noted, optimistic about hitting the “mother lode” as sensors recorded ideal bottom temperatures of 46.1°F. The crew was in high spirits, with pots yielding promising numbers, when they encountered a tangle with another vessel’s poly line, briefly complicating the operation. After skillfully clearing the tangle, disaster struck without warning.

“Smoke in the back! Smoke in the bow!” Colburn shouted, as crew members reported a fire below deck. The Wizard, a 152-foot vessel and one of the largest in the fleet, was suddenly engulfed in chaos. Colburn quickly realized the gravity of the situation when a headcount revealed that deckhand Tyler Gateman was missing. “Where’s Tyler?” he demanded, his voice laced with panic. The crew confirmed that Gateman, a hardworking and respected member of the team, was below deck preparing a buoy. Trapped behind a wall of fire, Gateman could be heard screaming for help, sending the crew into a frantic rescue effort.

A Race Against Time

With smoke billowing and flames threatening the ship, Colburn and his crew sprang into action. “Get the extinguisher on! Get the crane!” Colburn ordered, directing the team to pop the hatch to access the lower deck. The crew worked swiftly to rig a sling and hoist Gateman to safety, all while battling the fire with the ship’s CO2 suppression system. “Get him out! Get the sling on him!” Colburn urged, his voice breaking as the seconds ticked by. After a tense operation, the crew successfully pulled Gateman to safety, closing the hatches to contain the fire. “We got him,” a crew member confirmed, as Gateman, shaken but alive, was brought inside.

The fire, likely caused by an electrical issue in the Wizard’s Cadet heater—a notorious fire hazard on fishing vessels—was extinguished, but the emotional toll was immediate. Colburn, visibly shaken, reflected on the near-tragedy: “I just about lost my best friend’s son.” Gateman, described in a Collider article as “the epitome of grit and perseverance,” is the son of one of Colburn’s closest friends, making the incident deeply personal. “Going down to get a simple trailer line, and next thing you know, we got to pull him out of a fire,” Colburn said, his voice heavy with emotion. The realization that he nearly lost a crew member under his watch left the typically stoic captain in tears, a rare display of vulnerability for the self-proclaimed “safest captain” in the fleet.

A Season of Challenges for Colburn

The fire was just one of many trials for Colburn in Season 20, which aired from June to October 2024. Later in the season, he suffered a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or mini-stroke, requiring an emergency medevac 750 miles from the nearest hospital. The health scare, detailed in a Collider report, followed a heated argument with his brother, Monte “Mouse” Colburn, during which Keith collapsed and lost feeling in his arm. Doctors warned him to reduce stress to avoid a more severe stroke, yet Colburn returned for Season 21, premiering August 1, 2025, to chase crab near Adak Island. The fire incident, combined with his health crisis, underscored the relentless pressure of captaining the Wizard.

Colburn’s reputation for safety, built over decades, was tested by the fire. In a 2020 interview with Boating magazine, he emphasized the importance of contingency plans: “The worst mistake is not preparing for a worst-case scenario.” His quick thinking and the crew’s training likely saved Gateman’s life, but the emotional weight lingered. Fans on X and Reddit expressed shock and admiration, with one user posting, “Seeing Keith cry hit hard—he’s always so tough, but this was too close.” Another wrote, “Tyler’s lucky to be alive. That crew is family.”

The Wizard’s Legacy and Colburn’s Leadership

The F/V Wizard, purchased by Colburn in 2005, has been a mainstay of Deadliest Catch since Season 3, known for its size and reliability. Colburn, who started as a greenhorn with no experience, embodies a high-risk, high-reward mentality, tempered by a cautious approach to safety. His bio highlights his motto: “I’m a gambler, big time! But my heart never left the deck. I’m safe and cautious, but I don’t follow the pack.” The fire tested this philosophy, but the successful rescue reinforced his leadership.

Gateman, a key crew member since joining the Wizard, has earned Colburn’s respect through his work ethic. The incident, detailed in a Discovery Australia YouTube clip, highlighted the crew’s unity, with members like Gary Soper and Freddy Maugatai rallying to save their teammate. The Wizard’s CO2 system and Colburn’s decisive actions contained the fire, preventing a catastrophe that could have rivaled historic Bering Sea disasters like the Big Valley sinking.

A Sobering Reminder of the Bering Sea’s Dangers

The fire aboard the Wizard was a stark reminder of the inherent risks of crab fishing, where mechanical failures can turn deadly in seconds. Season 20, with its derby-style race for red king crab, amplified these dangers, as captains pushed their boats and crews to the limit. Colburn’s emotional response resonated with viewers, humanizing a captain known for his tough exterior. As he prepares for Season 21, facing 50-foot seas near Adak Island, questions linger about his health and ability to endure the Bering Sea’s unrelenting challenges.

The rescue of Tyler Gateman will remain one of Deadliest Catch’s most gripping moments, showcasing the courage and camaraderie that define the fleet. For Colburn, it was a personal crucible, testing his resolve as a captain and guardian of his crew. As he told Collider, “There’s a fine line between being a gambler and a professional.” In saving Gateman, Colburn proved he walks that line with unmatched skill—and a heart that feels every near miss.