The last moments of Captain Phil Harris and his son Josh Harris were caught on tape and shown in a very special episode titled “Redemption Day” of the “Deadliest Catch”, which was watched by more than 8.5 million viewers (watch video below). Phil Harris died of complications from a stroke in February 2010.

Phil’s son Josh Harris is actually glad the last intimate moment with his father was captured by the camera because it has helped preserve his memory, but it has not offered him or his brother Jake Harris any closure.

“They taped the last conversation I had with my dad,” Josh tells Us. “I remember leaving the hospital and it really sucked. It was very difficult for me.”

“I think it’s like, I keep thinking this whole thing is a joke. Like he’s going to pop out of the woodwork somewhere and say “I got you good, f***er,” and come back to work,” Josh says. “But that’s not going to happen. I got to see what I got to say to him in the last little bit and I actually feel very grateful and fortunate for that.”

Even though he refused to work alongside his dad Phil for years, Josh confessed that it gave him the chance to really know his father and their relationship only got stronger. However, the 26 year-old fisherman is planning to leave the Cornelia Marie and the icy waters for a healthier and warmer lifestyle.

“We became best buddies, working partners,” Josh tells Us. “We just generally spent time and got to hang out and learn who each other were. It was an awesome thing to have gotten that opportunity.”

“My first plan is to take a vacation somewhere warm with drinks with little umbrellas in them. Preferably the only crab I’ll see will be in a cartoon!” Josh tells Us. “I just want to relax for a little bit. I have also started on a wellness kick. I am trying to quit smoking and [my brother] Jake’s trying to follow suit. Smoking is what killed my father so we’re going around the U.S. helping people know about what problems and effects happen when you start smoking. We want to use our celebrity to help people stop smoking and just more than that, just be healthy. We want to help try and save people’s lives.”

The season finale of the Deadliest Catch included a tribute the Captain and marked the end of an era in a two-hour episode, which aired on Discovery Channel on Tuesday (July 27). R.I.P. Captain Phil Harris.

“Deadliest Catch: Redemption Day” Phil Harris Last Moments Video