Colorado hunters killed by lightning tragically remind us that nature remains unforgiving — and preparation can mean the difference between life and death. Conejos County Coroner Richard Martin ruled the preliminary cause of death for Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko as a lightning strike, saying their “[k]ind of death is just instant.”
The two 25-year-old hunters were found under a tree in the San Juan Wilderness Area, their bodies showing only minimal burns. “It’s like you’re alive, and now you’re not,” Martin told The Colorado Sun. “Just that quick. Split second.”
Deputies with the Conejos County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the men “were reported overdue while elk hunting” and discovered their gear left in their vehicle. Their satellite device, meant to provide backup communication in the backcountry, was “not functioning,” according to Porter’s aunt, Lynne Runkle. That failure left them vulnerable in a remote area where weather can turn deadly in moments.
Friends, family, and strangers across the country have raised nearly $79,000 through a GoFundMe campaign, with funds now redirected to support memorial services and both families. “Given the change in circumstances, we will be reallocating the remaining funds… to help cover memorial services for Andrew and Ian,” Runkle wrote.
