‘Gold Rush: White Water’ Dakota Fred Hurt Dies At 80
Gold Rush: White Water star Dakota Fred Hurt has died at the age of 80. The reality TV star spent the last 10 years of his life gold mining in Alaska with his family and he leaves behind a legion of fans and his beloved friends and family to mourn his death.
Here is what you need to know about the life and death of Dakota Fred Hurt.
Dakota Fred Hurt dies at 80
The news that Dakota Fred Hurt died came via his personal Facebook account. In the post, it was announced that he died on Tuesday morning, July 11, at the age of 80. “He fought courageously in his battle against cancer,” the statement read. It also mentioned that he touched many lives, while many people loved and supported the man.
This comes only four months after Hurt was diagnosed with Stage 4 Brain Cancer. Thrill of the Hunt Entertainment LLC, of which Fred is the co-owner, revealed the sad news and said it was a shock to Hurt, hitting him like a “bolt from the blue.” Hurt had gone on adventures that people half his age could never dare, and he said at the time he would fight this cancer like he fought everything else. He promised he would have more adventures in the future.
Sadly, the cancer was too much for the man and he passed away with his family by his side one day after his 80th birthday. Fred’s family said that if anyone who loved him wanted to contribute something, they could make a donation to the Mike Rowe Works Foundation in Fred’s honor. This is an organization that teaches people valuable skills to help them in their future endeavors.
The life of Dakota Fred Hurt
Dakota Fred Hurt was a veteran gold miner from North Dakota. He worked with the Hoffman Group under Gold Rush star Todd Hoffman during their first season at Porcupine Creek. He wasn’t there with the group but ended up sent by the claim owner Earle Foster. Fred ended up kicking Hoffman off the land and bought the claim to mine himself.
He owned that claim with Paul Behn and Fred’s son, Dustin Hurt. In Season 3, he formed the Dakota Boys and in Season 4 he added the Cahoon Creek Claim to his scrapbooks. He then pulled his entire team out of Gold Rush before Season 5 and started his own show, All That Glitters.
Fred returned to the Gold Rush franchise in 2018 with the spinoff series Gold Rush: White Water. He took the lead in this show with his son Dustin as they went into the wilderness of Haines Borough, Alaska. They went suction dredge diving in whitewater creeks for gold. Dakota Fred took some time off from White Water after his cancer diagnosis. However, his son Dustin is still a major part of the show.
Please help send your condolences and well wishes to the family and friends of Dakota Fred Hurt.
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We have watched the Gold Rush shows since the beginning with the Hoffmans. What impressed me the most is seeing Fred White Water Dredging at 78. If I can only be so lucky. RIP Fred, my condolences to Dustin.
Condolences to Freds son Dustin his family frends loved ones and fans. Really enjoyed the shows with Fred and others. He was a man who loved getting out there helping Dustin and the crews. And of course he was out there living life n matter how hard it was. I will surely miss hearing your stories and watching you work. I thank Dustin fir sharing both of your lives with everyone🙏❤RIP Fred.
As a fellow gold prospector, I admire that a man of 78 could do the things he did. My love and condolences to his family and all the crew that he worked with. May you find gold in heaven! Rest in peace, my friend.