Below Deck star Captain Lee's devastating tragedy and discovery which haunts him
Below Deck viewers are used to seeing Lee Rosbach as a stoic captain - but he has broken down on screen while discussing the devastating loss of his son.
Captain Lee suffered the worst pain imaginable for any parent - the death of his child.
The reality TV star's son, Joshua Lee Rosbach, sadly passed away in July 2019 after an accidental drug overdose at the age of just 42-years-old.
Joshua, who shared his father's love for the ocean and had been a First Mate aboard a yacht, had battled his demons during a 20-year long struggle with addiction.
Announcing the sad news with a photo of his late son, Captain Lee wrote on Instagram : "This past Saturday, my beloved wife Mary Anne and I laid our youngest son, Joshua Lee Rosbach to rest.
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Captain Lee tragically lost his son Joshua (NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)"After a twenty year struggle, he finally succumbed to the demons he fought so long and so hard.
"Addiction is an insidious disease that knows no social status or geographic boundaries. Whether you live in a 10,000 sq ft mansion or a double wide trailer, the path of death, destruction and devastation it leaves remains the same.
"We loved Josh unconditionally and were proud of the man he had become in spite of his problems. There was no one I ever knew who gave more of himself to those in his life.
"He loved with all his being without expecting anything in return. We both feel a hole in our souls that will never be filled.
"So my message to those of you who are fighting this disease, find a way to get help no matter what.
"For those of you who have a friend, family member, son, or daughter who's struggling, do what ever it takes to get them the help they need. Be kind and loving, and try to enjoy every second you have with them.
"Do not pray for our son, but please take care of your children and friends who may need it, as it isn’t too late for them. Captain & Mary Anne"
Former Below Deck Chief Stew Kate Chastain, who became best pals with Captain Lee while working on the show, sent a message of condolence.
She wrote: "Beautifully written statement by Captain Lee at what is certainly a devastating time. I've had the pleasure of spending time with Captain Lee & his wife Mary Anne in their home and the love they have for their family has always been a privilege to witness."
In one episode of Below Deck, Captain Lee tearfully opened up on his son's death while speaking to two charter guests.
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Jackie and David Siegel explained how they sadly lost their daughter to an overdose in 2015, leading Lee to reveal his family's ordeal in some heartbreaking scenes.
Since his son's death, Captain Lee has been raising awareness about addiction and even appeared in front of Congress in Washington D.C. in October 2021.
Lee said Joshua first became addicted to "pills" after he was prescribed pain medication following an accident that left him with two broken feet and a broken leg.
The Below Deck star explained how his son was supposed to come over and help him wash cars, but when he didn't hear from him he began to worry and went over to his house.
"When I pulled into Josh's driveway, I noticed the drapes were drawn and as I walked to the front door, I knew in my heart of hearts I did not want to open that damn door. I felt I already knew what awaited me on the other side," he heartbreakingly explained.
Captain Lee got a tattoo tribute for his son (Instagram)For a brief second he thought Josh was sat on the sofa with his head in his hands - but then he realised his son had died.
He continued: "I knew something was drastically wrong at that point, so I rushed over to where he was sitting and put my hand on his shoulder to wake him up.
"But there would be no more wake ups for my Josh. No more wake ups for my beautiful brown eyed boy. When I touched his shoulder, I felt no life. What I felt was cold and hard.
"My boy was gone. The man sitting peacefully on the couch was not my tall, handsome son anymore. Josh was gone."
Rosbach concluded with a call to action, asking Congress to increase efforts to create better and more rehabilitation centres for addicts to get help.
On the one year anniversary of Joshua's passing, Captain Lee got a tattoo of his son's face over his heart.
Posting a snap of his inking on Instagram, he wrote: "Our son is now where he should be and will always be, in my heart."
Lee also altered wife Mary Anne's wedding ring to feature a heart instead of a diamond which has some of Josh's ashes inside.
Captain Lee Rosbach is reportedly not returning for season 11 (NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)Captain Lee will not return for the upcoming season of the Bravo show, according to reports.
The 73-year-old will reportedly be replaced by Captain Kerry Titheradge for season 11, which is due to begin filming in Grenada,
The reasons for Lee's exit have not yet been confirmed, but they come after he was forced to bid an emotional goodbye to his crew in season 10 to deal with ongoing health issues.
"I'm gonna go back to the States, get this straightened out and as soon as I do, I'll be on the first plane back here and tell whoever's on board to get the f**k off my boat," he told his co-stars as he broke the news of his departure.
He added: "As you guys know I've been struggling with my mobility, and it's been hard and I've let you guys down and for that, I apologise.
"So I've made a decision to leave the boat."
Lee had been forced to use crutches ahead of his exit due to severe nerve damage caused after undergoing back surgery.
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