Captain Lee faces shocking severe health risks, fans are worried about him.
Captain Lee (pictured) has spoken about his son’s death over the years, including on Below Deck (
NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
He spoke about the experience on an episode of Below Deck during its eighth season, when a couple who had lost their daughter were charter guests on the show.
He said in a confessional: “I don’t believe in closure because there isn’t closure, but given enough time and assistance, you can probably develop skills to cope with it better.”
Asked how he was doing whilst on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2021, he said: “One day at a time. The hole in your heart’s never gonna go away. You can’t replace it with anything else.”
Amid discussing a parent losing a child, he added: “You deal with it and hope that you get better coping skills to get through it.”
Captain Lee raised awareness about addiction since his son’s death and even spoke about it in front of Congress in Washington D.C. later that year, as reported by People.
He said that Joshua became addicted to “pills” after he was prescribed pain medication following an accident that left him with a broken leg and two broken feet.
The reality TV star recalled discovering Joshua’s body after he didn’t turn up for a planned catch-up with his father. Captain Lee said that when he arrived at his son’s home, he noticed the drapes were drawn and said that as he walked towards the front door he “knew in [his] heart of hearts” that he didn’t want to open the door. He said: “I felt I already knew what awaited me on the other side.”
Captain Lee recalled that Josh looked like he had fallen asleep on the sofa but said he didn’t respond to his calling out to him. He continued by saying that he rushed over to his son and put his hand on his shoulder to wake him up.
He commented: “But there would be no more wake ups for my Josh. […] When I touched his shoulder, I felt no life. What I felt was cold and hard. My boy was gone.”
Captain Lee said that he remembers “every second” of the day he found his son, describing it as like a “horrific” film scene that plays over in his head. He added: “Can you imagine finding someone you love more than your own life itself dead and cold on their couch?”
Captain Lee has faced challenges related to his health in more recent years, after having undergone surgery prior to filming the tenth season.
He announced in the first episode of the season, which aired last year, that he had surgery on his back. He explained to his crew: “I am a little incapacitated. I have a nerve issue on my left side so I am going to depend on you guys in some areas.”
He told his colleagues at the time that the worst was “behind” him and added that doctors had assured that he would continue to get better. He said his approach was to work.
During the first few episodes of the season, Captain Lee was seen using a cane and crutches as he struggled with his mobility. He said in the fourth episode: “My injury, it’s getting worse. The left side of my body, I don’t feel anything.”
He further commented: “I expected a lot more progress than I’m experiencing, and the most frustrating part about it is, I can’t do a God damn thing about it, and it’s hard.”
He said in another confessional: “There comes a point if a captain is really being objective, he should be putting the best interests of his crew first because that’s your primary responsibility. As soon as you step on board, check your f***ing ego at the dock. That’s where you leave it.”
Later in the episode he made an announcement to his crew, revealing that he would be leaving the boat in light of his health. He said: “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.”
Captain Lee was heard saying in the next episode that he would return home to get the issue “straightened out” and would then return. He described the decision to leave as “hard” and said that it felt like an “emptiness”.
He shared an update with fans on social media around the time that the episodes were broadcast, saying in a tweet that he was “getting better every day”.
He later returned in episodes that were broadcast earlier this year, which were the final episodes of the tenth season. Captain Lee, who continued to have support from a crutch, said he wanted to “finish what [he’d] started”.
Captain Lee shared an update on his health following his return in the fourteenth episode of the season, saying: “I made a lot of improvement. I was spending every day in physiotherapy. And it was tough.”
Inside Captain Lee’s heartbreaking life – from health woes to devastating family tragedy
Below Deck star Captain Lee has faced some difficult times in recent years whilst appearing on the popular Bravo reality TV show, from experiencing his own health issues to losing a loved one
Captain Lee rose to fame as a cast member on the first season of Below Deck, which introduced viewers to crew aboard a superyacht when it premiered in 2013.
The reality TV star, now 73 – whose name is Harold Lee Rosbach – has led the cast in numerous seasons since, after decades of experience in the yachting industry.
He appeared on the Bravo show for a decade, having made his debut in the first season and most recently featuring in the tenth season, which concluded in March this year.
During his time on the show, Captain Lee has faced some heartache, including behind the scenes, which has at times been mentioned in episodes of Below Deck.
Captain Lee announced the death of his late son Joshua Rosbach (pictured) in 2019 (
Instagram)
Captain Lee has spoken openly about the death of his youngest son Joshua Rosbach, who passed away in 2019, aged 42. His death has been attributed to an ‘accidental drug overdose,’ though Captain Lee has since referred to it as an ‘accidental poisoning,’ suggesting that his son didn’t know the content of what he was taking.
The reality TV star shared the news of his son’s death in a post on social media shortly after his death, saying: “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 10,000sqft 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 whatever it takes to get them the help they need. Be kind and loving, and try to enjoy every second you have with them.”
