Captain Kerry Reflects on ‘Below Deck’ Charter Guest Meltdown

Captain Kerry Titheradge is setting the record straight about one of the most intense charter guest incidents in the history of “Below Deck.”

During the Aug. 5 episode of the Bravo series, viewers watched as guest Kelly was removed from the yacht following an alcohol-fueled meltdown. But according to Titheradge, what aired was only a fraction of the full situation.

Titheradge Says Safety Came First, Not Entertainment

“We could only put so much into a 45-minute episode,” Titheradge told People. “But it was very, very, very intense for everybody in the vessel.”

Season 12 Episode 10 of “Below Deck” documented Kelly’s erratic behavior, which led to safety concerns and ultimately police intervention. Titheradge called it the “craziest experience” he’s had as a captain.

“Her energy was intense,” he recalled. “You just kind of know who to watch out for.” As Kelly began drinking, her behavior became increasingly belligerent. Titheradge made the call to cut her off from alcohol. “Not to punish her, but to protect her and everyone else,” he explained.

Despite his crew’s effort to de-escalate the situation—including offering sparkling water as a discreet alternative—Kelly refused and continued to act out. Things escalated further when she defied instructions to wear a life jacket and jumped into the water.

“I was trying to physically stop her from getting in the water, at first using my body to block her,” Titheradge said. “I asked the crew to move up. They kind of made a wall so she couldn’t get past us.”

With safety in mind, Titheradge eventually made the difficult call to bring in the police. “She couldn’t stay with us. We weren’t the place for her to get better,” he explained. “I gave her plenty of time to cool down — you only saw a short part of that.”

Empathy for Kelly & Praise for His Crew

Titheradge praised his team for their professionalism during the incident and especially credited the primary guest, Helen, for stepping in to help escort Kelly off the yacht.

“I couldn’t send her ashore by herself,” he said. “Helen had a very calming nature and a sense of empathy. She was the right person to ensure Kelly wasn’t left alone because she was in such a fragile state.”

Even after everything that happened, Titheradge showed compassion. “I looked at her like a wounded animal,” he said. “Mental health is very important to me, and I could see that she just wasn’t there. She wasn’t herself.”

The captain revealed he has seen Kelly since the incident, though they haven’t spoken about what happened.