Joel Taylor, star of the now-defunct Discovery Channel series "Storm Chasers," died on Tuesday while onboard the Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas.
Taylor, 38, was an Elk City, Oklahoma native known for chasing storms in an area known as "Tornado Alley" along with his best friend and co-star Reed Timmer. "RIP my best friend and storm chasing partner, Joel Taylor. I am shocked and absolutely devastated by the loss of my incredible, caring friend," Timmer posted in his official Twitter account after hearing Taylor's death.
"We chased so many intense storms, and I wish we could have just one more storm chase. I'll miss you forever, Joel. We lost a legend."
According to TMZ, Taylor's death was apparently caused by overdosing on the party drug GHB. A fellow passenger on the cruise told the celebrity news website that Taylor has consumed too much of the drug and was escorted back to his cabin from the dance floor by two people. He was also unconscious at the time.
A representative from the cruise ship then told authorities that Taylor was found unresponsive in his cabin Tuesday. Police was then notified immediately upon arriving in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Apparently, drugs were rampant on the cruise ship, and several people were even arrested at the Ft. Lauderdale port before the ship departed for drug possession. Aside from GHB, ecstasy and cocaine were also brought in the cruise.
Several of Taylor's friends and colleagues have already posted their condolences on social media. In a tweet, Mike Olbinski wrote, "I was lucky enough to meet Joel a few years ago at Reed's wedding. He was so kind to me and we got to hang out for a bit during those few days."
"I snapped this photo of him and that just seemed like who he was. A huge smile. RIP Joel Taylor...you will be so missed."
Team Western Oklahoma Chaser also posted a parting message to Taylor, which has since then taken down due to unknown reasons. "He didn't chase for the glory he chased because he had a true passion for storms. In the last few years he'd load up with his dad and go chase and not even take a camera," the group posted.
"Our hearts are hurting for his mom Tracy and dad Jimmy along with his brother and sister and their children. Please know you are in our prayers. RIP Joel."
Joel Taylor first joined the cast of "Storm Chasers" in 2008 as part of the team from the website TornadoVideos.Net (TVN), which was founded by Timmer, his fellow classmate at the University of Oklahoma who also majored in meteorology. After five seasons, the show was canceled in 2012.
No official announcement has yet been made regarding Taylor's cause of death.
