Below Deck Mediterranean’s Captain Sandy Yawn tried to interject when Max Salvador considered helping his father flee from Africa.
During the Monday, August 24, episode of the hit Bravo show, Max received a call from his father, who he previously said kicked him out as a teenager. The deckhand was able to get in touch with his dad after years of estrangement.
“My father called me [because] he is in deep s***. Really urgent,” Max told the cameras. “He had been enrolled in a criminal organization of laundering money.”
Max told Captain Sandy he was thinking of leaving the charter season early.
“My father is now in Tunisia and some criminal organization has arrived to receive a check, put it on his bank account and redraw the money,” he explained. “He was doing it to make extra money and now the bank saw the fraud so they closed the bank account and he can’t give the money to the guys.”
Max continued: “He can’t even leave the country because he doesn’t have enough money. Now I am going to go to Tunisia to get him out of the country.”
The captain suggested that Max “call the French embassy” instead. As the episode came to an end, Max explained why he was in a rush to help his dad.
“I want to do what my father didn’t do for me,” he said. “I will send an act of love to my father even after everything he did. I will not let him go. Tomorrow I will take my father and take him straight to Libya.”
Max’s idea didn’t sound good to Captain Sandy. Before a “To Be Continued” message appeared on screen, Sandy urged Max not to get caught up in his father’s issues.
“You are going to go right in the middle of danger?” she asked. “Libya has a warning, ‘Do not travel for any reason due to crime and terrorism.’ That is your border. I am not going to sugarcoat anything, Max. I am going to tell you this, doing what you are doing is not smart. Now you are going to risk your life?”
Max returned to the franchise earlier this year after he previously worked with Captain Sandy. He quickly found himself caught in some drama when Nathan Gallagher surprised Max by asking him to secretly side with him instead of Joe Bradley amid their feud.
In an August episode, Max joined the crew while Nathan was healing from a back injury. Max ultimately started working under Joe, who was temporarily the new boson. Nathan’s absence paved the way for Joe to make moves as bosun — with Max supporting him potential move up.
At the end of the episode, Max received a text from Nathan, which read, “I’m sure Joe’s been in your ear. I’m gonna get back to the boat at some point, and I need you.”
He continued: “Have my back and I’ll for sure make you lead deckhand. Swear.”
Max was left conflicted since Nathan previously passed him over for a lead deckhand position. Joe, meanwhile, also promised Max that he would promote him in the event that Nathan didn’t take back his role as bosun this season.
Below Deck Med airs on Bravo Mondays at 8 p.m. ET. New episodes stream the next day on Peacock.
