Two elk hunters who went missing in the wilderness for a week were tragically killed by a lightning strike, according to the coroner’s assessment. The victims, identified as Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko, both 25 years old, were struck by lightning while hunting on the Rio de los Pinos trail in the National Forest of Colorado. They were found under a tree with slight burns on their bodies, indicating the fatal incident occurred instantly.
Coroner Richard Martin confirmed the hunters’ instantaneous death, describing it as a swift and immediate event. Although the exact time of their demise remains undetermined, the nature of their injuries suggests a rapid and fatal lightning strike.
Autopsy results for Porter, from Asheville, North Carolina, and Stasko, from Salt Lake City, Utah, are pending and expected in about eight weeks. Search and rescue teams located the hunters’ remains on Thursday morning, ending a week-long search operation. Porter’s aunt mentioned that the hunters may have been taken by surprise by passing storms in the area.
Porter had last shared his location with his fiancée Bridget Murphy via a satellite device on September 11, near the trailhead. Following the discovery of their bodies, Murphy expressed relief that closure had been achieved and emphasized that the victims had done nothing wrong and did not experience fear or suffering.
The tragic incident, deemed an accident beyond anyone’s control, unfolded as Porter attempted to return to the car amidst approaching storms. Murphy mourned the loss of her partner, describing their enduring relationship and expressing profound sorrow over the unexpected turn of events.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Coroner Martin by the Mirror have been made.