Featured Image Credit: YouTube/StormOutdoorsy
Topics: YouTube, Social Media, Viral, Weather
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: YouTube, Social Media, Viral, Weather
YouTuber Storm De Beul recorded a heartbreaking final message before passing away after getting caught in a snowstorm.
The 22-year-old content creator from Belgium shared videos of his treks in remote locations with his thousands of subscribers.
However, while in Jokkmokk in Northern Sweden - planning to trek solo across Lapland - he came into some unexpected weather and got caught up in a blizzard.
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During his trek, Storm - who went by StormOutdoorsy on the platform - recorded several messages, including one to his friend and another to his grandmother.
In the recordings he explained how the weather had turned and it was 'snowing heavily,' adding: "Tonight, it’s going to get worse. Jesus Christ."
He also turned the camera round to show his shoes and backpack filled with snow, the tent struggling under the high winds and heavy snow.
But to his grandmother, he reassured: "But don’t worry, I’ll survive, you know."
Sadly, the YouTuber was later discovered having passed away on October 30, 2024, Storm discovered outside of his tent and his mom, Elisabeth Rademaker having since questioned why he'd left.
In an interview with Belgian news site 7Sur7, she pointed out how trees had been 'uprooted' due to the severity of the storm and perhaps her son's tent 'also blew away and he had no choice but to start walking'.
It's reported Storm contacted emergency services during the night at around 2:00am and told them he was injured, but by the time they reached him it was too late.
Rademaker reflects her son's death 'devastates' her and it's hard not to 'keep imagining his last moments,' temperatures measuring -6°C.
"And because of the storm it even felt like -18°C," she adds, noting when Storm was found, his 'feet and lower legs were frozen,' and his nose broken.
She continues: "His hands weren't, he might still have had his hand warmers with him."
Storm's father, Bout, has since revealed he plans to return to where his son passed in spring in a bid to try and retrieve his camera.
He said: "His videos are a priceless legacy for us. But now his camera is there, somewhere in the snow, full of images from his very last trek. I would love nothing more than to get it back. Imagine if his camera and memory card were still there. I know the chances are slim, but I have to try."
Storm's mom noted he 'learned to survive by watching hours of videos' like the ones he ended up sharing on his own YouTube channel.
"It was his way, even though he’s not very social, of giving people a glimpse into his life. He wanted to show the beauty of nature on the one hand, and on the other hand, that things don’t always have to happen quickly," she added.
Bout agreed Storm 'was someone who had trouble connecting with people' and liked 'being alone' so adventuring in nature 'made him really happy'.
Storm's mom resolved: "Not that we want to make Storm a hero. We just want him to be remembered as he was: very calm water with very deep soils."