“Deadliest Catch” star Todd Meadows‘ final, heartbreaking call with his family aired on TV … and in his last chat with his kids, he assured them he was being safe.

During a FaceTime with his 3 kids that aired on Friday’s season finale, Todd — who was only 25 when he died — told his son that when he got back home, they’d go fishing.

Todd’s daughter said … “I hope you’re being safe. If you’re not being safe, you better be safe.”

Todd then responded … “Oh, I’m being safe.”

The episode then shows the chaotic aftermath following Meadows going overboard in the waters off the coast of Alaska.

Upon hearing screams and learning that a crew member had gone overboard, Captain Rick Shelford turned the boat around and ordered his crew to get Meadows back on the ship.

Meadows spent over 6 minutes in the Bering Sea before he was pulled out unresponsive, prompting the crew to perform CPR as the captain called the Coast Guard.

We reported earlier … Meadows’ death certificate lists “drowning with probable hypothermia” and “submersion of body in cold water” as his cause of death.