Three brave men who dedicated their lives to chasing erratic and powerful storms have been taken by their job, they so loved.

Acclaimed researcher Tim Samaras, his son Paul Samaras, and Carl Young died on Friday in El Reno, Oklahoma, whilst tracking a gigantic twister. The video below is the last recording that was made of the chasers, just before the weather beast “crushed the truck like a tin can…smashed to bits.”

Tim Samaras and his team might be recognised from the show “Storm Chasers” that used to be on the National Geographic channel. But Tim made a large impact with regards to the study of the forces of nature.

Canadian County Undersheriff Chris West:

We also want to say that storm chasers and meteorologists and news stations, that’s part of the vital link in getting the word out to people so that they don’t become victims. A lot of these individuals have dedicated many years of their lives to going out and assisting and tracking storms, and getting footage and putting themselves in harm’s way so they can educate the public to the destructive power of these storms.

Over his 25 years of studies, Tim has collected many achievements. Among his designs of atmospheric instruments and deploying of tornado’s, he holds the Guinness World Record for the “greatest pressure drop ever measured inside a tornado.”

Jim Cantore, a Weather Channel meteorologist wrote on Sunday.

This is a very sad day for the meteorological community and the families of our friends lost.Tim Samaras was a pioneer and great man.

— Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) June 2, 2013

Jim Samaras posted this on Facebook about his brother.

Thank you to everyone for the condolences. It truly is sad that we lost my great brother Tim and his great son, Paul. 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. Chasing Tornado’s. [sic] I look at it that he is in the ‘big tornado in the sky…’

Tim’s courage and scientific discoveries will not be forgotten; it’s a bitter sweet ending to be taken by the phenomena that gave him life in the first place.

[Source: Weather.com]