- Gold miner and reality TV star Dakota Fred Hurt passes away at 78
- Known for his role in Discovery’s series Gold Rush and Gold Rush: White Water
- Family and friends gathered in a wake for Hurt in Haines, Alaska, wearing blue
Dakota Fred Hurt, the gold miner and reality TV star, has died at 78 years of age. He rose to fame through his appearances on Discovery’s Gold Rush and Gold Rush: White Water series.
Hurt began gold mining in his early 60s and his relentless and hardworking personality caught the attention of the producers of Gold Rush, where he featured prominently during the first two seasons. Following his tenure on the show, Hurt created his own series, All That Glitters, and later returned to Discovery with Gold Rush: White Water, alongside his son Dustin Hurt. Together, they faced treacherous conditions in their search for gold in the freezing rapids of Alaska.
Nicknamed “Dakota Fred” for his expertise in gold mining, Hurt touched the lives of many and earned a loyal fan base. The wake for Dakota Fred was held in Haines, Alaska, where friends and family gathered in his honor and wore blue, as they believed it was a color that best represented him.
Several people close to Hurt paid tribute to him, including his wife Jennifer Sheets Hurt, who called him the “love of her life.” In a heartfelt note, she expressed her gratitude for the time they had together and how she would continue to be inspired by his passion for life. Additionally, his son Dustin took to social media to praise his father, saying, “He showed me how to live life with Honor, Respect, Kindness and giving.”