The Billings Gazette is reporting that in a news release issued late Tuesday, Yellowstone National Park said a man is presumed dead after falling into a hot spring at the park.
Witnesses say they saw a man who appeared to be in his early 20s walk off the boardwalk at Norris Geyser Basin and fall into a hot spring. Rangers have not been able to find the man and are treating the incident as a probable death, according to the park statement.
Park spokeswoman Charissa Reid said a search was underway, but “the recovery process is very difficult because of the hazards of the environment.” Reid would not identify the man or where he was from, according to KPAX.com. The hot springs are known to reach temperatures that are deadly to humans on contact.
“Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest and most changeable thermal area in Yellowstone,” according to the YNP website. One of the big dangers is the ever-changing features of the basin. There are hollow areas, covered by only a thin layer of rock, and beneath that very thin layer is boiling, bacteria-filled water. That is why visitors are warned to stay on the boardwalks.
The Norris Geyser Basin is now closed to the public while the investigation into the presumed death is going on, and the park says it will not release any further information until tomorrow, or as it becomes available.
Just one in a long list of incidents
This latest probable death comes on the heels of a number of incidents that have occurred at the iconic park this year as Yellowstone celebrates its 100th anniversary. In 2015, the park saw a record number of visitors and this year, park officials expect even greater numbers.
This past Saturday, a 13-year-old boy, being carried by his father, fell out of his father’s arms into a hot pool in Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin. The child received burns on his ankle and foot and was flown to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson. His father also suffered burns rescuing the boy.
In May a bison calf had to be euthanized by park officials after Shamash Kassam of Quebec, Canada, and his son, Shakeel Kassam, thinking the calf was cold, put it in their SUV. The story escalated into a social media “public shaming” and can be found on Digital Journal.
Also in May, a Canadian film crew decided to go off the path into Yellowstone National Park’s iconic Grand Prismatic Spring. There, they stomped around and took selfies. The three men are now facing federal charges and they apologized for their actions.
Again in May, on Sunday the 29th, a woman got her just rewards for ignoring the posted regulations to stay at least 25 yards away from wildlife, and 100 yards away from bears and wolves. Jody Tibbitts, a Yellowstone guide for 25 years, was giving the grand tour to a family from Florida when he noticed one woman creeping closer and closer to an elk, her camera at the ready for a picture.
“She was practically stomping up to it,” Tibbitts told the East Idaho News. “I’d say she was probably 25 feet away from the elk as opposed to the 25 yards.” Another man in the group starting filming the encounter, even as Tibbitts was warning the woman to steer clear of the animal. On the video, the elk can be seen charging her. She landed flat on the ground. She says she tripped.
Again, the park staff is reminding visitors to pay attention to warning signs and directions. The warnings, regulations, and innumerable reminders are not for the benefit of the animals or the attractions because they can’t read. All that signage is for the public, to protect us and ensure that we have a safe, enjoyable visit.
And another reminder about taking selfies or videotaping your visit. Abide by the rules governing the distance you must have between you and the animal, and do not stray off designated paths. It could save your life.
