Captain Jason Calls for Production’s Help After Deckhand’s Gruesome Injury On Below Deck
Harry Van Vliet was forced to go to the hospital on Below Deck Down Under after a jet ski accident left his hand bloodied and throbbing.
Captain Jason Chambers called Season 3 of Below Deck Down Under “challenging” in the Seychelles on board Katina, and after dealing with a galley full of maggots and weevils, as well as tension between head chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph and sous chef Anthony Bird, another issue popped up in Episode 3: a bloody injury.
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Watch Below Deck Down Under on Mondays at 8/7c and next day on Peacock. Catch up Bravo.
It all started on the first day of the second charter when returning deckhand Harry Van Vliet was on a jet ski in the water while most of the guests were having a picnic on the beach. Harry commented on how big the ocean swell was, and said, “Far out, it’s rocking around.” Then all of the sudden he began screaming.
Keep reading to see how he was injured and if he’ll have to leave the charter season early.
How did Harry Van Vliet get injured while on a jet ski near Katina?
Jason immediately sprang into action when Harry began yelling in pain.
“Production, we have an issue with Harry on the jet ski at the moment,” he said as he jumped onto the production tender and rode to Harry.
As soon as Harry got back onto Katina, he asked for the medic. The cameras showed his bloody hands, and part of his right thumb was visibly hanging off.
As stewardess Marina Marcondes de Barros brought him paper towels and water and sat him down, Harry explained, “I f—ing crushed my thumb.”
Jason called for a doctor to come on board, and Dr. Laura joined them on Katina.
Many of the crew members were left confused by what happened, with chief stewardess Lara Rigby commenting, “It’s a lot of blood.”
Harry then explained to the doctor how he was injured.
“I was pulling out the jet ski and I clipped the cradle on, and then a wave came and my finger was in between the cradle and the jet ski and it went up, so it was just crushed,” he said.
Will Harry Van Vliet have to leave Below Deck Down Under due to his hand injury?
The doctor explained to Harry how serious the injury to his hand was, particularly with his job as a deckhand.
“Well, you don’t have a fingernail,” she said. “You can get staph infection from the water. I will do my best to cover it, but you have to be very mindful about using it. If your symptoms don’t subside, if you feel pain, if your movement is limited, then I would suggest an X-ray, in case you have any kind of fracture. But you have to really keep an eye on it.”
Harry’s injury was a huge concern to his boss, bosun Wihan Du Toit.
“I’m quite worried about Harry and his thumb. He’s in pain. This is really gonna affect the deck team. Massively,” he said in his confessional.
Although Harry took pain medications and tried to sleep, he tossed and turned in his bed and in the crew mess all night.
“The pain in my thumb right now — I’m in agony,” he said in his confessional. “It’s throbbing. It’s so sore. I feel awful. I’ve never felt like this in my life. This season could be over for me before it even starts.”
In the morning, Harry talked to Jason and they agreed he needed to get an X-ray at the hospital, leaving his future on the yacht in jeopardy.
“I don’t want to lose Harry,” Jason said. “He’s got good energy. He’s good for the crew. It’s a time for him to grow this season. However, this could be a broken thumb as well. If that’s an issue, we need a new deckhand.”
Episode 3 ended on a cliffhanger, as Harry headed off to the hospital—his future uncertain.
Watch all-new episodes of Below Deck Down Under on Mondays at 8/7c and the next day on Peacock.
