- Rancher Mike Morgan, 51, was struck by lightning while feeding his cows.
- His wife, who was 200 feet away at the time of impact, was thrown from her horse.
- Morgan leaves behind his wife and 17-year-old daughter.
A 51-year-old Colorado rancher tragically lost his life Saturday to a lightning strike that also killed 34 of his cows and three calves.
Mike Morgan was feeding his cattle from a trailer when he was hit. He died at the scene after first responders attempted to resuscitate him, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said.
Morgan’s wife, Niki, was about 200 feet away from Morgan when the lightning struck and was strong enough to knock her off her horse, according to a Facebook post from Your Cavvy Foundationa nonprofit organization that helps ranchers with serious medical problems.
Morgan’s father-in-law was also reportedly close to the explosion but survived.
The impact knocked down about 100 cattle that had crowded around the trailer from which Morgan was feeding them, county Coroner George Crocket said.
Mike Morgan was killed in a freak lightning strike over the weekend, Jackson County officials revealed Monday.
Morgan, 51, was a rancher in the town of Walden, Colorado, a close-knit community outside Denver.
Recently, Morgan’s family could afford to have 300 head of cattle, and his dream was to have his own animals.
“All but the 34 stood up,” Crocket added.
The lightning struck a grassland outside the town of Rand, which is about 80 miles northwest of Denver. NBC reported.
Morgan is survived by his wife Niki and daughter Dallas, 17, who are also involved in the ranching business.
The His Cavvy Foundation described Morgan and his family as “a prominent pillar” in the town of Walden, Colorado.
The foundation’s post explained that Morgan had always been working on a local ranch, which recently gave the family the opportunity to purchase 300 pairs. Pairs refer to a cow and her calf.
“Mike’s wife, Niki, spent all winter calving these pairs while Mike worked at Silver Spur Ranches,” the post said. ‘They do what we all do, whatever it takes to make a living, and they do it by doing what we are all passionate about. Cattle raising…’
The His Cavvy Foundation wrote that Morgan’s family has donated time, resources and finances to various causes over the years.
“Mike was a loving father and a tender, intentional husband,” the post said. “We will all miss that big smile he always wore.”