Two elk hunters were discovered dead on a southern Colorado trail following a gargantuan search. Police confirmed Monday that they were struck by lightning.

Talking with The Colorado Sun, Conejos County Coroner Richard Martin confirmed that Ian Stasko and Andrew Porter were killed by lightning southwest of Monte Vista while on a hunting trip.

According to Martin, the hunters were discovered under a tree with their bodies slightly burned. (RELATED: Hurricane Gabrielle Rapidly Intensifies Into Major Category 4 Storm)

“A slight burn is like if you take a match and stick it on your arm,” said Martin, per the outlet. “And there were only two or three of them.”

He stated that the deaths of the hunters were most likely immediate, however, he was unable to confirm exactly when they died.

“That kind of death is just instant. It’s like you’re alive and now you’re not,” said Martin. “Just that quick. Split second.”

Two 25-year-old elk hunters found dead in Colorado were struck by lightning: ‘Horrific act of nature’ https://t.co/NR3OAVlf2C pic.twitter.com/IA1ToiYugf

— New York Post (@nypost) September 23, 2025

The fiancée of Porter, Bridget Murphy, stated that both Porter and Stasko had experience when it came to being outdoors, and that they likely got caught up in a storm.

“It is OFFICIAL, that a lightning strike to the ground took them in an instant. They didn’t do anything wrong, they didn’t feel fear or pain,” wrote Murphy on Facebook, per The Colorado Sun.

“He was just trying to get back to the car as storms rolled in on Friday – September 12. It was out of everyone’s hands, and I am so grateful we found them so they can be at peace. He was an experienced outdoorsman, who was in the wrong spot at the wrong time.”