Two hunters from Miami and their dogs were killed by lightning in Florida last week, officials confirmed, marking one of the deadliest lightning incidents this year.
The victims were identified as 38-year-old Alexander Karl Getz and 31-year-old Peter James Stansky, according to the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office. Both were reported missing after failing to return from a hunting trip. Search teams discovered their bodies, along with their two dogs, on Wednesday, Sept. 24. Authorities believe all four were killed by a lightning strike on Monday evening, Sept. 22.
“Our area gets more lightning than just about anywhere else in the country, especially in the summer. If you can hear thunder, that means lightning is close enough to strike, even if the sky doesn’t look too bad yet,” said Sheriff Paul Blackman. “It is essential to pay attention and plan ahead when storms approach.”
This is the second lightning-related hunting death in less than a month. On Sept. 11, two men in south-central Colorado were killed while hunting.
So far in 2025, the United States has reported 19 lightning-related deaths, making it the deadliest year since 2022, according to the National Lightning Safety Council.
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