A man who died while trying to 'hot pot' in a hot spring at the Yellowstone National Park missed these life-saving rules.
The natural beauty of Yellowstone National Park is unmatched, but it shouldn’t be mistaken for being a safe area.
The park's hot springs can be extremely dangerous to someone who isn’t aware of the soaring temperatures of the pools and believe it’s simply a warm-water area - with tourists recently being sent running for their lives when a hot spring suddenly exploded.
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As one of the largest magma chambers in the world, it’s insanely hot to the touch and not even sea-life can survive in it.
And while it might be tempting to dip into the volcanic waters, it’s not recommended by the park.
Swimming in the hot springs can be fatal, as 23-year-old Colin Scott found out too late back in June of 2016.
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When the man decided this was the perfect location for him to 'hot pot', or take a dip into a hot spring, he’d sealed his fate.
After testing the temperature of water with his finger, he slipped and fell in.
Colin was found dead in the hot spring later that day, and when rescue officials went to safely retrieve his body one day later, all that remained were his flip flops and his wallet.
The rest of his remains are presumed to have been dissolved by the boiling temperatures.
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However, all of this could have been avoided if he had read the park’s strict rules for visitors.
On the park’s website, it states that even though it’s up to ‘visitors to know how to stay safe around geothermal features’, there are some handy pointers to save people from losing their lives.
Its guidance starts by suggesting that all visitors should ‘always walk on boardwalks or designated trails’ as the thin crust surrounding the thermal features is not solid ground and could easily lead to a person falling through and being swallowed up by the boiling waters.
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Another pointer is that people should never ‘touch thermal features or runoff’ as the temperature can reach 200 degrees and more (93c).
The park also notes that you should never wade in or swim in the thermal features, as they understand that ‘more than 20 people have died from intentionally entering or falling into hot springs’.
Just like Colin.
Pets are also not prohibited on site, with the website reading: “If you do bring your pet, they must be within 100 feet of roads, parking areas, and campgrounds at all times. They are not allowed on boardwalks or in any thermal areas.
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"In October 2021, for example, a visitor was seriously burned after her dog escaped her vehicle and jumped into a thermal feature (unfortunately, the dog did not survive).”
Finally, if you ever felt the need to throw in your belongings or reach in to retrieve them from the water, don’t.
The National Park understands that people’s first instinct is to quickly reach down to pick up something they’ve dropped. But, if you do this, you could end up with a missing hand or being in a world of pain while your skin burns under the insane heat.
Just make sure you read the rules and you’re safe to visit. If not, maybe go to a beach.
Britt Jones