Tragic final moments of influencer couple who ‘lost control' of vehicle plunging 650ft down mountain to their deaths
YouTube stars Stacey Tourout and Matthew Yeomans are believed to have lost control of their car before it tumbled down a rocky hill in Canada.
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Rescuers believe the couple died after losing control of their vehicle while driving through rough terrain in the mountains near Trout Lake in British Colombia, Canada.
The pair, who were also engaged, were behind the Toyota World Runners YouTube channel.
They had amassed over 200,000 subscribers and more than 72,000 Instagram followers by sharing their breathtaking adventures across North and South America.
Stacey and Matthew had been driving on a forestry road "somewhere in the mountains" near Trout Lake, a rescue operations spokesperson said.
Manager of the Kaslo Search and Rescue (SAR) team Mark Jennings-Bates told CBC when they arrived to the scene, one of the victims was already dead.
The other was "disoriented and suffering from serious injuries", before succumbing to those injuries later on in hospital.
It is currently unclear if it was Tourout or Yeomans who died at the scene.
Authorities are still probing the exact circumstances of the crash, but investigators believe they likely lost control of the vehicle before plummeted down a mountain.
Jennings-Bates said he estimates the couple fell about 656 feet downhill before they slammed down to the ground.
He said they likely rolled "many, many times" during the harrowing fall.
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The rescue worker also said that the gruelling rescue operation was "challenging" as it was a long uphill journey to reach the pair and riddled with rugged chunks of land.
Stacey's heartbroken mum confirmed the couple's tragic death in an emotional social media post.
She said they both died "in the beautiful mountains of British Columbia that they loved so much".
Her mum said: "Please keep us and them in your thoughts and prayers as we navigate this devastating end to an amazing Love Story."
Their tight-knit online community is mourning the loss of the popular duo.
Social media has been flooded with emotional tributes, as heartbroken fans remembered the pair.
Fellow influencer behind The Story Till Now YouTube channel, Shaun, said: "They were so young and full of life, so talented, and this is a huge loss for our off-road community, their friends and family, and the world."
He added that while he never met them in person, he often spoke to Matthew on the phone.
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Shaun revealed the last time he spoke to Matthew - just one day before Matthew and his fiancée died.
Shaun's jeep had broken down, and he was "trying to figure out how to get it home".
The YouTuber said: "We joked about how we would have finally met up the next day if not for my Jeep breaking down, but talked about getting some firm plans on the books for a trip next month.
"They tragically passed away that very next day in an accident, and I'm just devastated over it."
Their heartbreaking final video showed the pair putting Toyota trucks through an "ultimate test" in rough terrain.
The footage showed them camping out in the stunning Canadian scenery while testing their trucks on the rocky trail.
Heartbroken fans in the comments section have paid tribute to the influencer couple.
One user said: "I'm in absolute shock hearing that these two beautiful souls are no longer with us.
"My condolences to not only their family and friends, but also viewers that appreciated them, their projects, and their adventures."
Another commented: "We wished this episode would have lasted forever, as it meant we'd never have to truly say goodbye.
"We didn't get the chance to meet you, but you gave more inspiration than you knew.
"Hope you're on an amazing trail leading to an even better campsite. Rest easy to the coolest people we never met."
Jennings-Bates has warned others to proceed with extra caution while off-roading following the heartbreaking ordeal.
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