Tragic Will Norton tribute resurfaces after new Netflix doc The Twister

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Amongst the 161 individuals who tragically lost their lives during the destructive 2011 Joplin tornado, Norton was one of them. A poignant memorial re-emerged after the premiere of The Twister: Trapped in the Vortex.

Yesterday (March 19), a fresh documentary was added to Netflix, delving into the destructive might of Mother Nature through a re-telling of events that occurred on May 22, 2011. On this day, an extremely powerful tornado, classified as EF5, swept through Joplin, Missouri.

Besides claiming the lives of many, this catastrophic event also left over a thousand individuals wounded and devastated large portions of the region, marking it as the deadliest U.S. tornado since 1947 and ranking among the seven deadliest ever recorded in history.

Using real-life video recordings, the documentary titled “The Twister: Caught in the Storm” chronicles the happenings of that fateful day. Additionally, it features interviews with survivors and pays tribute to those who unfortunately did not make it through.

Will Norton tribute resurfaces after The Twister: Caught in the Storm

17-year-old YouTuber, Norton, was among several students celebrating their graduation from Joplin High School. Unfortunately, a tornado struck as they were doing so, and Norton lost his life on his journey home after the graduation ceremony.

One of the last known photos of Will Norton at his graduation from Joplin High School on May 22, 2011. Sadly, he was killed while on his way home from the ceremony when the infamous EF5 tornado hit Joplin.
byu/aldisneygirl91 inlastimages

A touching homage re-emerged after the debut of the documentary, as a Reddit user posted a picture showing Will grinning in his graduation robe and displaying his diploma.

Next to the image, they inscribed, “This is one of the final pictures of Will Norton taken at his graduation from Joplin High School on May 22, 2011. Tragically, he passed away while returning home from the event when the devastating EF5 tornado struck Joplin.

As a fellow student in Will’s TV Productions class, I was a year younger than him, yet our paths crossed in this creative realm. Among all the brilliant minds in our class, Will stood out as the most exceptional – not just for his academic prowess, but also because he was the only one who had successfully built a thriving YouTube channel.

Apart from being one of the kindest young individuals I encountered, he possessed an exceptional quality: he never judged others based on their wealth or poverty. Regrettably, his life was cut short far too soon, following his high school graduation as we were driving home together.

One person responded, “I appreciate you sharing his YouTube channel. It’s clear he loved making people laugh. You know the phrase: ‘The good ones always leave us too soon.’

In the gripping Netflix documentary, I come across snippets of news broadcasts, vividly portraying the moment when Will went missing. As his loved ones and I scrambled to find any trace of him, he unknowingly became a beacon for the missing Joplin residents in the wake of the devastating storm.

This news anchor showcases footage from his YouTube channel, noting, “Already a prominent figure on YouTube with over 1.5 million views across his videos. Unfortunately, he went missing on Sunday following the impact of the tornado on his SUV.

In a subsequent interview, it was confirmed that Aunt Tracey Pressler stated that Will had returned home following his graduation just as the unfortunate event occurred.

She stated that with the sirens blaring, everyone scattered to find safety, while her brother was at the wheel. Unfortunately, the tornado seemingly picked them up right from the car and carried them aloft.

According to Pressler, her brother reached out to grasp Will, who began reciting scripture. “A tornado ripped him right through the sunroof as my brother held onto him,” she explained.

The hunt for Will persisted until May 27, 2011, when his corpse was discovered in a nearby pond, having been lifted by the tornado earlier. Tributes flooded in as journalists, relatives, and acquaintances encouraged viewers to honor him by visiting his YouTube channel.

Keegan, our high school football leader and buddy of Will’s, mentions that if you haven’t already, you should check out Will’s YouTube channel. It’s packed with numerous videos, each one reflecting the zest for life that defined Will on a daily basis.

Currently, the movie “The Twister: Caught in the Storm” is available for streaming on Netflix. If you’re interested in more documentary updates, check out recent news about the postponement of “American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden,” learn where Ruby Franke is currently, and discover what transpired with Michael and Kristine Barnett.

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2025-03-20 14:18