Swamp People star Mitchell Guist died of natural causes Monday morning according to Ascension Parish (Louisiana) coroner Dr. John Fraiche, who has completed the preliminary autopsy. Guist died after he collapsed while building his houseboat on the Belle River, about 40 miles south of Baton Rouge. He had just launched the boat and was pushing it when he collapsed, according to a friend of the family.

mitchell sitting

Photo from History Channel

Mitchell will be laid to rest on Saturday after funeral services in Gonzales, LA. According to a friend of the family, visitation at the funeral home will be on Friday evening and Saturday morning. The funeral services are scheduled to be held at noon Saturday. Family is hoping that a number of Mitchell’s fans show up to celebrate his life with them.

Swamp People airs on the History Channel on Thursdays at 8:00 pm Louisiana Time. The program highlights Cajun life in the Atchafalaya Basin, emphasizing Cajun cooking, culture, and hunting and fishing.

Mitchell and his brother Glenn became folk heroes here in Louisiana soon after they began appearing on the show during its second season. They were honored last year at the Gonzales Christmas Parade and have made a number of appearances throughout this region.

Here is a video introducing the Guist brothers to viewers: