A respected reality show storm chaser was one of 11 people killed by a deadly tornado that tore through Oklahoma Friday, his brother announced today.
Veteran extreme weather analyst Tim Samaras — who was featured on the Discovery Channel’s “Storm Chasers” show — died alongside his son, Paul, and assistant, Carl Young, when they were caught in a twister that devastated the small town of El Reno.
Samaras, 55, was considered one of the premier storm chasers in the country and was counted on by major networks to provide close up footage of tornadoes in progress.
The stunning deaths were announced on Facebook by Samaras’s brother, Tim Samaras.
“It truly is sad that we lost my great brother Tim and his great son, Paul,” he wrote. “Our hearts also go out to the Carl Young family as well as they are feeling the same feelings we are today,. They all unfortunately passed away but doing what they loved.”
Officials said they recovered the truck that the three men had been traveling in and that it had been mangled beyond recognition.
“Dangerous day ahead for OK–stay weather savvy!” Samaras tweeted just hours before his death.
A renowned meteorologist, Samaras created a special probe that allowed him to film from inside tornadoes. The innovation led National Geographic to fund 18 of his research projects.
The weather enthusiast said his interest in tornadoes was sparked by a childhood viewing of “The Wizard of Oz.”
Meanwhile, Oklahoma officials continued to pick up the pieces from the latest tornado disaster to strike the hard hit region.
Crews worked feverishly to bring back electricity and to clear debris from roads amid driving rains and flooding.