Reality TV shows serve one overarching purpose: to entertain as much as possible. Therefore, it’s morbid but true that whenever many of us tune into an action and adventure-packed reality show, we do so expecting some tragedy. Unfortunately, given the dangerous nature of shows like “Life Below Zero” or “Port Protection,” the likelihood of something bad happening is always looming. Perhaps one of these shows recently reached the epitome of sadness as they lost one of their own.
Rumors spread that Gary Mulberger, one of the main stars of “Port Protection Alaska,” died in a house fire. Reports revealed that Gary’s house in Port Protection had burned down, and he was reported missing on March 15. Friends and neighbors inspected the scene and found human remains among the ruins, leading them to believe that the 75-year-old was lost on the remote and rural census-designated island of Port Protection. However, Port Protection is a very distant and rural island, making it difficult for officials to investigate. It took until March 19 for officials to send a fire marshal to inspect the scene, and bad weather further delayed the investigation. Ultimately, the state medical examiner could only officially announce Gary’s death on March 25, but friends and fans of the reality star were already mourning his death before the official announcement.
Gary Mulberger was one of the seven main cast members of the “Port Protection” series. He was considered one of the best trappers in the area and had developed an extensive knowledge and skill set for surviving in the harsh wilderness after living around the island for around 40 years. As far as we know, Gary lived alone with only his best friend and dog named Trapper. Reports stated that Trapper had been found safe and healthy when the fire broke out and is now being looked after by caring people.
Immediately after the news spread, fans poured in prayers and condolences for Gary Marlberger. “Life Below Zero” star Sue Akins took to Facebook to pay her respects, writing: “My heartfelt condolences to all who knew and will remember Gary Mulberger. Rest in peace, Gary, you are a legend.” It seemed like a tribute from one legend to another, as if anyone knows about death, it is Sue Aikens. Long before her TV fame, Aikens already had local notoriety for her many survival skills, one of which was surviving a bear attack in 2007. When Aikens was fairly new at her current home in Kavik River Camp, she made a grave mistake of letting her guard down for a few seconds. A juvenile bear that was hiding nearby attacked her and mauled her severely. Aikens somehow managed to pull herself back to her cabin, called for help, patched herself up enough to be able to move, and went back out to shoot the bear that had attacked her. When rescue arrived for Aikens, they were shocked to learn what had happened. Aikens has since gone on to survive many more close calls and lives a full life. Fortunately, apart from Gary, other cast members have not passed away yet.
