Overview
- Hansen collapsed during the Season 21 finale and was hospitalized, where a doctor advised him to quit smoking, cut back on caffeine, and consider leaving the boat.
- In a new People interview, the 59-year-old captain says he is now open to stepping away soon to spend more time with his wife and grandchildren.
- He acknowledges fear has grown with each trip after years in a high-risk job and two prior heart attacks documented during his career.
- Episode footage showed he had been awake roughly 36 hours, consumed 15–20 cups of coffee, and admitted he was still smoking.
- He says daughter Mandy and her husband, Clark, are capable of taking over operations if he retires, as fans debate online whether he should step back now.