Two promising young college students have been killed in a horrific fire which swept through an Alabama hunting camp during the early hours of Wednesday morning. Mark Mostellar, 21, and James Hensley II, 19, perished in the blaze which tore through the rural area where they were staying close to Evergreen, in the south of the state. Conecuh County Coroner’s Office said they were inside a 'structure' off Stowers Road with two others when the fire broke out at about 1.30am. 'Four individuals were inside the home at the time of the incident,' the office said in a statement. 'Two occupants were able to escape and were transported for medical treatment with injuries.

'Tragically, two occupants succumbed to injuries sustained in the fire and were pronounced deceased at the scene.' The cause and origin of the fire is under investigation by local and state authorities, according to Evergreen Police Department. Local news outlet AL.com reported that the two survivors of the fire were friends of the students. They were treated in the hospital. The extent of their injuries has not been disclosed. Mostellar (pictured) and Hensley were both business majors at the University of Alabama, and members of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, according to their LinkedIn profiles. 

Before joining the university, they were both standout athletes at their high schools in Mobile, according to local media outlets. Mostellar, who also went by 'McNeil', is pictured on the UMS-Wright Preparatory School Varsity Football Roster for 2023. He was big fan of hunting, and his Facebook profile picture shows him with several catches, including a seven-foot swordfish he caught with friends. Another image shows Mostellar grinning with mud on his cheeks as he brandished half a dozen birds snagged on another hunting trip.

Meanwhile, Hensley (pictured), who also went by 'Walter', played for St Luke's Episcopal School basketball and football teams. St Luke's held a vigil for Hensley in the aftermath of the horror. 'In the wake of great loss, we are reminded just how fragile life truly is,' the school wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday. 'When words fall short, we gather. 'Anyone in our greater community who is seeking a place for prayer, reflection, comfort, or simply the presence of others please join us this evening.' The Daily Mail has reached out to the Conecuh County Coroner’s Office, the Evergreen Police Department, the Alabama LP Gas Board and the Alabama State Fire Marshal’s Office for more information.