The Conejos County Sheriff's Office reported the unfortunate death of a 54-year-old Tennessee man, marking the third hunter fatality in the South San Juan Wilderness this month. The distress call, received late Friday at approximately 11:23 p.m., indicated that CPR was already in progress for the hunter in a remote part of the wilderness. However, his life could not be saved, and the darkness of night precluded the immediate retrieval of his body, according to KDVR.
The authorities have yet to confirm the cause of death, postponing the release of any further details until the El Paso County Coroner has conducted an autopsy. This bereavement arrives on the heels of a previous tragedy where two hunters perished from a lightning strike in the same expanse of Colorado wilderness, as the Conejos County Sheriff's Office told Denver7. In light of these events, Sheriff Crowther urged the public to exercise increased caution and preparedness in navigating the potential dangers of the backcountry.
A Flight for Life helicopter executed the recovery of the man's body on Saturday following the delay. Officials have retained the victim's identity while they notify his next of kin. There has been no suggestion from the authorities that the hunter's demise poses any wider threat to hunters or tourists in the area, according to KKTV.
The earlier incident involving the lightning strike casualties occurred on September 18, claiming the lives of Andrew Porter of North Carolina and Ian Stasko of Utah, both 25. Their bodies were discovered after a week-long silence, a few miles from the Colorado-New Mexico border. The Sheriff's Office maintains that, despite these tragic incidents, there remains "no threat to the hunting public or those observing fall colors in the area," as reported by Denver7.
