November 4, 2010 10:01 AM

Matt Hughes: "Storm Chasers" Death Unrelated to Chasing

By
Joyce Lee
Topics
Television ,
News

Matt Hughes from Discovery Channel's "Storm Chasers" (YouTube)

NEW YORK (CBS) "Storm Chasers" fans were shocked to learn on Wednesday's episode that meteorologists and storm chaser Matt Hughes had died.

The episode, appropriately titled "Dedication," featured Hughes' final chase as he led the team to what Discovery Channel says was "their best tornado intercepts ever."

The show revealed that the same weekend of his last chase, Hughes suffered a fatal injury at his home. He died a  week later on May 26, 2010, in Wichita, Kan., at age 30.  He is survived by his wife, Kendra, and two sons, Collin and Hunter.

According to the Wichita Eagle, his 15 years of storm chasing experience helped him land on the show in 2009.

He admitted to the newspaper last year that it took some time in the beginning to earn his team's trust, but he eventually became a perfect fit.

"As the season went along, you could see us come together," he said. "By the end of the season we're like a well-oiled machine. We knew what each other was thinking almost before we had to say it."


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by reborn0 December 1, 2010 6:16 PM EST
your not a dick just a dumass dont open your pie hole unless you have walked in someones shoes yes people make that choice but that doesent mean they wanted to when you are depressed and drinking nothing makes sence when your heart is breaking and you cant stand the pain you will stop the pain anyway you can do you know how hard it is to put a gun to your head or rope around your neck it takes everything you got to pull the trigger its not what you want to do but you do it,takes more courage to blow your head off or hang yourself than to live in this screwed up world somethimes you cant find a person to talk to in time.
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by kkbo1969 December 1, 2010 5:25 PM EST
I am saddened by this. But only the Lord knows the reasons and it is not for us to queastion but only to pray for his family, his wife and most of all, his children. This is tragic and reading some of the comments that was written is sad! These people have never experienced the pain of loosing someone to suicide. And hopefully they will never have to. But the Lord knows their hearts and will act accordingly. I ask for the Lord to forgive them, they know not what they say...obviously! And for the rest of us....lets pray for the strength for the family & children to overcome this tragity and grow from it.
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by wheelieking351 November 11, 2010 10:32 PM EST
This was what was posted on discovery channel by matts mom and wife. Definatly proves that he killed himself. It may be unfortunate but there is nothing anyone can or could do to prevent it. It would have happened eventually if he was in that bad of a state of mind.
website: http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/storm-chasers/tribute.html
A personal message from Matt's wife Kendra and mother Cindy:

"We want the public to know what his many family, friends, and co-workers already know; Matt Hughes was truly a wonderful and caring person with such a kind and loving spirit. Those around him could not help but love him too."

"Our family never intended to conceal the circumstances surrounding Matt's death in an effort to deceive the public, but rather to allow us to grieve privately, as well as, protect the many young children that have been affected by this tragedy. Depression is an extremely widespread, yet treatable, condition. Receiving education regarding the signs and symptoms of suicidal ideation is essential. Those who know of, or may need help themselves, need to seek treatment or call the "National Suicide Prevention Lifeline" at (800) 273-TALK (8255)."

"We are grateful to so many who have offered their support during Matt's time in the hospital, and the difficult months following his death. Most importantly, we thank God for giving him to us, if only for a short time."

A special memorial fund has been established to benefit Matt's two young sons. Donations can be made to:

Matthew John Hughes Memorial Fund
c/o Intrust Bank
142 North Ash
Valley Center, Kansas 67147
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by UForgotPoland November 8, 2010 2:27 PM EST
Odd that he committed suicide since he had a family and a dream job, but I guess depression doesn't have any bounds.
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by uriah1234 November 8, 2010 1:12 PM EST
It is called untreated "mental illness"
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by uriah1234 November 8, 2010 1:11 PM EST
It is called "mental illness"...untreated
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by toondaddy November 7, 2010 6:45 PM EST
I just heard about this today, 11-7-2010. Why does Yahoo run old stories many months after the story breaks and they act like its a story they just broke minutes ago? It's like running a news story today that tells of Michael Jackson's death. I know, Yahoo isn't a news organization, they just make money regurgitating other companies information.
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by howler3333 November 5, 2010 12:14 AM EDT
I hate to sound like a dick but if he tried to kill himself than you can't really for bad for him. He wanted to end his life and thats what he did. I feel sorry for his family and hope the best for them but I don't feel sorry for his death that he casted upon himself.
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by nmallare November 5, 2010 1:53 PM EDT
http://www.kake.com/blogs/aaronblaser/95824564.html
by bobnjersey November 5, 2010 4:46 PM EDT
[I hate to sound like a dick but if he tried to kill himself than you can't really for bad for him.]
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yes you can. being at a point where you believe your only choice it to kill yourself must be one lonely place. he likely lived with this for a long time ... and he shares this state w/ an large number of people suffering from the same feeling of helplessness and despair. it's hard to imagine how anyone can be what appears to be so selfish ... but it's likely not a perspective you want to have ... because it's the perspective that made what he did seem like the only choice. all the best to his family, friends, and colleagues that he left behind.
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by howler3333 November 5, 2010 12:12 AM EDT
I hateto sound like a dick but if he yried to kill himself than you can't really for bad for him. He wanted to end his life and thats what he did. I feel sorry for his family and hope the best for them but I don't feel sorry for his death that he casted upon himself.
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by wopatula November 6, 2010 9:17 AM EDT
really? If you weren't a dick surely you wouldn't post something such as this... Also, have you ever been depressed? Have you ever had a mental illness> Have you ever thought of what it would be like to have either one? Have you ever thought about dying or killing yourself? Ever tried? It's not easy to do for most, so to follow through on something especially a hanging where you suffer for a while is pretty intense! Put yourself in his position, try to think about how hard it would really be to follow through on killing yourself, or how depressed he must have been to really follow through... If you still don't feel like a dick... well.. then I'd say your just sick or retarded
by tandarat October 5, 2011 7:35 PM EDT
I hope you are young, and experience and wisdom will eventually change this cold, callous attitude towards those who are suffering.

I don't know what people are thinking when they make comments like this, but do you have ANY idea how difficult it is for someone to actually commit suicide? We are hardwired to survive, so there must be an incredible amount of pain inside to not just seriously think about suicide, but to carry out those thoughts.

My heart breaks for both him and his family. The saddest thing is that most people who end their lives have no idea how much they are loved, and, in his case, admired by complete strangers. Of course, even if he knew, clinical depression, like many mental illnesses, can do strange things to your mind. He may not have registered, or even twisted it around so he felt that everyone would be better without him.

I have no idea what was going on in his world that prompted this act. I also wonder if he had been put on anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medication, and he became suicidal because of it. I know I had been put on an anti-depressant when I wasn't depressed (long story, but let's just say that many doctors, including psych docs tend to label women, often not even listening to symptoms (or lack of them). I was very lucky I had recognized what was happening and had a friend who selflessly talked me through the night over the phone (husband was away on business). Flushed the pills and notified doc I wouldn't be coming back. I just hope this didn't happen to him - it would add yet another layer to this tragedy....
by bosky1 November 4, 2010 8:33 PM EDT
In all the episodes I have watched last night was the best. He called that tornado perfectly. Even if I had not known it was his last show I would have considered him a tornado chasing stud. It was almost like pitching a perfect game...very rare. I wonder what caused him to do it especially at the height of his chasing career....
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