Sig Hansen’s Son-in-Law Rushed to Emergency Care After Severe Bleeding and Infection Scare
In the unforgiving waters of the Bering Sea, the start of the crab fishing season has proven as perilous as ever, with crews facing relentless weather, mechanical mishaps, and a serious onboard injury that could sideline a key deckhand. Drawing from recent accounts from the fleet, including the Northwestern and Time Bandit, the high-stakes world of Alaskan king crab fishing is off to a rocky beginning, underscoring the dangers that come with chasing the lucrative but elusive catch.
The drama unfolded 310 miles west of Dutch Harbor on remote fishing grounds, where gale-force winds exceeding 20 knots have battered vessels and hampered operations. Captains and crews are grappling with a “fight” for every crab, as one veteran put it, with fuel costs mounting and pots coming up empty. “The longer we stay, the more money is going out the smoke stack,” lamented a crew member from the Northwestern, highlighting the economic pressure amid poor yields.
Aboard the Time Bandit, a significant crew change added to the season’s uncertainty. Longtime member “My” has officially departed the vessel to return home to his family after kicking off the season out west. “It’s time for me to go home to the girls,” he said in a heartfelt farewell. Stepping into the void are Jonah and Mandy, who are now tasked with keeping the operation afloat. “You got this,” My encouraged Mandy, acknowledging the “lot of pieces to this puzzle” in managing the boat’s demanding routine.
Meanwhile, the Northwestern encountered a string of hazards that nearly turned deadly. Hydraulic hoses on the stiff arms came loose, leading to a frantic repair effort amid rolling seas. “Whoa. Watch out. Get off the rail,” shouted crew members as an acrobat-like mishap unfolded, with equipment swinging precariously. The team managed to tape up the issue, but the close call served as a stark reminder of how quickly things can go wrong. “That is too close,” one deckhand admitted, relieved but shaken.
The weather compounded the challenges, with heavy water crashing over the rails and forcing cautious maneuvers. Despite deploying pots across a 30-mile spread in depths ranging from 40 to 50 fathoms, the Northwestern pulled up blank after blank. “Come on crab. Let’s go,” urged the crew, only to be met with disappointment. Captain’s orders soon followed: “Guys, we’re going to throw the rest of these on them. Make a big move right now.” The decision to relocate was driven by the dual threats of bad fishing and worsening conditions, with safety paramount. “If we can keep the boat safe and keep the guys safe and find crab, that’s the name of the game,” the captain emphasized.
But the real blow came when deckhand Clark suffered a gruesome injury while preparing bait. In a momentary lapse amid the boat’s roll, Clark stabbed himself through the hand with a knife intended for cod. “I just went like this to stick it in the back and I missed and hit it right in the middle of my hand,” he recounted. The wound, described as going “right through the thumb part,” left him unable to move his index finger and raised immediate concerns about infection— a serious risk in the bacteria-laden environment of a fishing vessel. “Fish poisoning is a real thing,” noted a crewmate, as they cleaned and bandaged the injury with makeshift supplies.
Clark, who is not just a crew member but the captain’s son-in-law, insisted on toughing it out. “He wants to stick it out. He wants to stay,” observed the captain. However, the potential for permanent damage and infection prompted a call to fellow captain John for advice. “We got to get Clark back into town here,” the decision was made, prioritizing health over harvest. As the Northwestern prepares to “put the pedal to the metal” and head in, the incident highlights the personal toll of the trade. “I just don’t want to be the reason that we have to go in,” Clark reflected, calling it “one of those stupid mistakes.”
As the fleet presses on, these early setbacks serve as a grim preview of the season ahead. With crab proving elusive and nature unrelenting, captains like those on the Northwestern and Time Bandit must balance ambition with caution. For now, the Bering Sea remains a battleground where every day is a gamble—and safety is the only sure win.
This report is compiled from firsthand accounts and radio communications from the vessels involved. Crab fishing remains one of the most dangerous occupations in the U.S., with an average fatality rate far exceeding other industries.