Authorities believe that Tony Lara, a crab catcher who starred on the Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch, died of a heart attack in his sleep. Lara was only 50 years old.
As previously reported, Lara was found dead at a private home in Sturgis, North Dakota Saturday morning. He was in North Dakota to attend a motorcycle rally.
Meade County Sheriff Ron Merwin told TMZ this afternoon that a pathologist noticed that Lara’s heart had scar tissue that was consistent with a heart attack. While Merwin said that there were no signs of drugs or alcohol playing a role in his death, toxicology results have not come back yet.
“It came as an absolute shock that he had passed away,” friend and Deadliest Catch costar Keith Colburn told People magazine. “I know Tony had some heart problems a couple of years back, but he didn't really talk about it much.”
Colburn, who had been friends with Lara for 20 years, told People that Lara was “a really good guy all around, and he had wonderful character.”
Lara was the captain of the Cornelia Marie, one of the boats featured on Deadliest Catch. The show covers crab catchers working in Alaska and is currently in its 11th season.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this sad time,” a Discovery spokesman told People last night.