There are several people on Deadliest Catch who become fan favorites. One of these is OJ Ganuelas, a deckhand who has come and gone from the show on a few occasions. He is also someone who has been through a lot. Here is a look at what has happened to OJ and how his tough life has played into the reality TV show.
Where Is OJ Ganuelas From Deadliest Catch?
Pascual “OJ” Ganuelas first appeared on Deadliest Catch in Season 16. He has popped in and out of episodes, and it isn’t clear if he works full-time on any vessel or if he only works part of the season, explaining his frequent absences.
Over the last four seasons, he hasn’t shown up in a lot of episodes, but when he does show up, it is often something big happening. There have even been moments shown where he almost died. He has been through several injuries on the show throughout the years.
OJ works as a deckhand on the F/V Wizard. This job entails several duties to help the vessel run properly and keep everything in order. This is also a dangerous place to be. As the show’s fans know, the waves swell and often come up over the decks. This fact makes it a terrifying place to be when the chance of being washed into the sea is high.
In Season 16, OJ was on the deck during the Snow Moon. In the 19th episode of the season, he was thrown overboard when the dangerous waves hit the boat. Luckily, his crewmates were able to save him. It was worse in Season 19 when OJ suffered a heart attack on the vessel.
Has Anyone Died On Deadliest Catch?
It is unclear if OJ will be back on Deadliest Catch. The heart attack might be enough for any captain to err on caution and keep him off their vessels. There is a chance he could still be working but not featured on TV, though.
Several members of the Deadliest Catch cast have died over the years. Nick Maver, a deckhand on the F/V Northwestern, died from natural causes in 2024. However, there are other members who died more tragically.
Todd Kouchutin died in an accident in 2021. The 30-year-old was fatally injured in an accident on board the F/V Patricia Lee when he was hit by an 800-pound crab pot. Captain Phil Harris, one of the show’s breakout stars, had a massive stroke while working on the F/V Cornelia Marie. He died one week later at 53.
Deck boss Nick McGlashan died in 2020, but it had nothing to do with the job. He died from an apparent overdose in a hotel room in Nashville. Deckhand Mahlon Reyes died in 2020 of a heart attack at 38.
Do you remember much about Pascual “OJ” Ganuelas or his near-death experiences on Deadliest Catch? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
