Conejos County officials in Colorado have determined that two 25-year-old men, Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko, were killed by a lightning strike while elk hunting in the Rio Grande National Forest.
The pair had been missing since September 11 after reporting their location via satellite device. Their bodies were found under a large tree near the Rio De Los Pinos Trail Head after an extensive weeklong search.
Though no major injuries were visible, minor burns and singed hair on their bodies, clothing, and gear pointed to lightning as the cause, according to the coroner. Investigators say death was instantaneous.
Both men were experienced outdoorsmen; their lack of trauma and the presence of weather disturbances in the area helped lead authorities to the conclusion of a natural cause. An official autopsy report is expected within several more weeks as families mourn their sudden loss.