On Friday, a tourist was discovered in the San Juan National Forest in Colorado, close to the site where two young hunters lost their lives to lightning just two weeks prior.
The victim, a 54-year-old man from Tennessee, was found deceased in a remote area of the South San Juan wilderness before authorities arrived, as reported by the Conejos County Sheriff’s Office.
A call about the situation came in around 11:23 PM local time. However, it’s not clear if this man was part of a hunting group or if he was roaming alone.
Rescue teams were dispatched to locate him. Unfortunately, due to dangerous conditions at night, they couldn’t recover the body immediately and had to return at first light the following day.
The sheriff’s office withheld the man’s identity until the family has been notified. The cause of death will be confirmed by a prosecutor.
Several miles away, the remains of two missing elk hunters, Andrew Porter and Ian Stasco, were located on September 18 after a week-long search. Aged 25, both were killed instantly by lightning, leaving behind only minor burns, according to the Conejos County Coroner.
Porter’s fiancée expressed her grief, suggesting they may have changed their wet clothes before returning outdoors when lightning struck. She noted, “It may not have been official, but he was my husband and partner. We lived like a married couple for three years. I feel like a widow.” Yet she found solace in knowing they were well-prepared, engaged in an activity they loved, emphasizing that such incidents can happen to anyone.
The Rio Grande National Forest spans approximately 1.86 million acres.
