Two men and their hunting dogs have died, and Florida authorities believe lightning may be to blame.
On Thursday, Sept. 25, the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were called after the men—whose names have not been released—failed to return from a hunting trip. Prior to the deputies’ arrival on Wednesday, Sept. 24, officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had already been searching the area and discovered their vehicle parked nearby.
Authorities reported that the bodies were found on a levee near a canal.
The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the men were 38 and 31 years old and were from the Miami area.
“Our area experiences more lightning than almost anywhere else in the country, especially during the summer. If you hear thunder, that means lightning is close enough to strike, even if the sky doesn’t look threatening yet,” Sheriff Paul Blackman said.
“It is crucial to pay attention and plan ahead when storms are approaching,” he added.
The HCSO advised that the safest place during a storm is indoors. If that’s not possible, authorities recommend seeking shelter inside a vehicle or a sturdy building with a roof as soon as thunder is heard.
Under no circumstances should anyone seek cover under a tree or stay near water, the sheriff’s office warned, noting that open fields are particularly dangerous.
If inside a building, people should avoid windows, corded electronics, and running showers or baths until the storm passes. “These small steps can go a long way in keeping you safe,” the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office said.
The deaths of the two hunters and their dogs come about a week after two 25-year-old hunters were found dead in southern Colorado on Sept. 18 following a nearly weeklong search. Officials said the Colorado victims, identified as Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko, were killed by a lightning strike.
In a statement to PEOPLE on Monday, Sept. 22, Conejos County Coroner Richard Martin said their injuries were consistent with “a pretty intense electrical jolt.”
“They had a few burn marks, like if you take a match, let it burn down a bit, and then touch it to your arm—just a couple of small marks like that,” Martin explained, noting there was also “a little bit of singed hair, but not very much.”
Autopsy results for the victims in Colorado are expected in about eight weeks, Martin added.
