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Third Hunter Found Dead in Colorado's South San Juan Wilderness

An autopsy is pending, with officials urging caution for backcountry travel.

Overview

  • The Conejos County Sheriff's Office said a 54-year-old man, reported by KOAT as from Tennessee, was found deceased after a late-night call from hunters in a remote area.
  • Fellow hunters were administering CPR when responders arrived and confirmed the death near midnight Friday.
  • Hazardous nighttime conditions halted a recovery effort until first light Saturday, when teams and a Flight for Life helicopter recovered the body.
  • His identity remains withheld pending notification of next of kin, and the El Paso County Coroner will conduct the autopsy to determine the cause of death.
  • The incident follows the recent deaths of two 25-year-old hunters in the same wilderness that the county coroner attributed to lightning, with authorities stating there is no broader threat to visitors.