Mitchell Guist, who starred on the History Channel reality show ‘Swamp People,’ passed away on Monday while loading a boat on Louisiana’s Belle River.

According to reports, Guist suffered a seizure and fell down. It is unclear if trauma from the fall killed him, or if his death was a result of a medical condition.

“We are extremely saddened to report that our friend and beloved member of the ‘Swamp People’ family, Mitchell Guist, has passed away earlier today,” The History Channel said in a statement Monday. “Mitchell passed on the swamp, doing what he loved. We appreciate your respect for the Guist family’s privacy and hope you join us in sending our thoughts and prayers to his brother, Glenn, and the rest of the Guist family.”

Mitchell and Glenn Guist joined the cast of the hit reality show in its second season. They were known for their long white beards, good nature and their ability to live off the swamp land they’d called home for their entire lives. Mitchell Guist would have turned 48 on Friday. Learn more about the colorful character in the videos below.

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