Yellowstone National Park became the scene of a horrific tragedy in 2016, when a young man met his end in shocking circumstances after falling into a scalding hot spring.

Colin Scott, aged 23, was touring the park alongside his sister when the duo arrived at the Norris Geyser Basin, recognised as one of the park’s most geothermally volatile and perilous zones.

 

 

Yellowstone National Park, stretching across the American states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, is renowned for its geysers, thermal springs and breathtaking scenery, though park officials consistently warn visitors about the lethal risks posed by the park’s geothermal attractions.

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An official incident report reveals that Colin and his sister Sadie had intentionally strayed from the designated boardwalk – the secure zone for tourists – in the Norris Geyser Basin, venturing more than 225 feet into a restricted section.

Reports indicate the brother and sister were attempting to locate a suitable spot for “hot-potting” – a banned practice involving soaking in the park’s thermal waters.

This activity is deemed hazardous owing to unstable terrain surrounding the pools, plus the extreme heat and corrosive nature of these water features – at the time Colin perished, officials had documented no fewer than 22 similar deaths since 1890, reports the Mirror US.

Crews suspended their operation and returned the next morning. Upon their arrival, they were unable to retrieve any substantial remains of Colin’s body.

Subsequently, park authorities confirmed that the intense heat, coupled with the water’s extreme acidity, had caused the body to completely dissolve. Teams managed only to salvage his wallet and shoes from the location.

Officials reinforced their previous safety advisories following the incident. Lorant Veress, who served as the park’s deputy chief ranger at that time, characterised the geothermal features as “very unforgiving”, and emphasised that barriers and walkways exist to protect visitors from peril.

The Norris Geyser Basin sits adjacent to the rim of a volcanic system known as the Yellowstone caldera, frequently referred to as a “supervolcano” that fuels the area’s thermal springs whilst posing virtually no threat of eruption.