Sig Hansen’s On-Deck Meltdown EXPOSED – The Family Drama That’s Tearing Deadliest Catch Apart
Sig Hansen remains a cornerstone of Deadliest Catch, the gritty Discovery Channel series chronicling the perils of Alaskan crabbing. As anticipation builds for the unconfirmed cast of Season 22, fans eagerly await his return to the helm of the F/V Northwestern. Hansen’s unwavering commitment shines through despite a series of harrowing health scares—here’s a recap of his journey.
Sig Hansen’s Brush with Mortality
In March 2016, while cameras captured the chaos of a Bering Sea storm, Hansen endured a heart attack that struck without warning. “It was a strange heart attack,” he later shared with Yahoo. “It wasn’t like you see in the movies. I had this really sharp, sharp pain, like a knife, right behind my chest plate.” Initially in denial and itching to keep fishing, Hansen was airlifted to an Anchorage hospital after tests confirmed a severe blockage. A timely blood-thinning injection dissolved a life-threatening clot in his artery, which he credits with saving his life.
Hansen faced another close call in October 2018, off-camera, during treatment for a sinus infection. An allergic reaction to antibiotics triggered a “slight heart attack,” leaving him with mere minutes to spare, as a nurse warned. An EpiPen injection pulled him back from the brink, sending his body into shock. The ordeal prompted Hansen to finally kick his decades-long smoking habit. “I was embarrassed and ashamed of myself,” he confessed to TV Insider. “That’s when I threw [the cigarettes] away.”
Did Sig Hansen Ever Leave Deadliest Catch?
Rumors swirled in September 2010 that Hansen would bow out of Season 7, but he swiftly returned the next month. The scare stemmed from contract disputes with Discovery, exacerbated by a lawsuit against captains Jonathan and Andy Hillstrand over an unfinished spinoff. In solidarity, Hansen issued a joint statement: “We have been through a lot… and unfortunately given the situation with Discovery, we are unable to continue.” He added, “I want people to know the captains stand together.”
Negotiations behind closed doors resolved the impasse, allowing Hansen—and the Hillstrands—to rejoin the fleet. He’s been a fixture ever since, embodying the show’s relentless spirit.
Sig Hansen’s Marriages and Family
Hansen has tied the knot twice. His first union was with Lisa Eckstrom, ending before the birth of their daughter, Melissa Eckstrom. In a deeply personal controversy, Melissa alleged childhood sexual abuse by Hansen in the early 1990s, claims he vehemently denied. Prosecutors declined criminal charges in 2017, citing insufficient evidence under charging guidelines. A 2018 civil suit proceeded after a judge’s ruling, but no public outcome has emerged.
Hansen found lasting partnership with June Hansen, his wife of over two decades (exact wedding date undisclosed). The couple, who keep a low profile, adopted two daughters: Mandy Hansen, a fellow crabber who’s appeared on the show, and Nina Hansen. June’s 2019 cancer diagnosis cast a shadow, but the family has shared few updates, respecting her privacy amid Hansen’s high-seas demands.
Through heart-pounding crises and contractual tempests, Sig Hansen’s grit defines Deadliest Catch. As Season 22 looms, his story reminds us why the sea—and its captains—captivate us.