Man dips finger in Yellowstone hot spring, accidentally falls in and dissolves within a day

A man passed away after he accidentally fell into a hot spring in Yellowstone.

Colin Scott, from Portland, was only 23 years old when he lost his life after he and his sister went on a walk in Yellowstone National Park.

The pair were looking for a place to “hot pot” which is a term that’s used to refer to soaking in the park’s natural thermal features Yellowstone has the largest hot spring in the United States.

What was supposed to be a fun day out between two siblings instead turned into a tragedy.

An aerial photograph of Excelsior Geyser and Grand Prismatic Spring in the Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park. Credit: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty

Speaking to investigators, Colin’s sister Sable said that she and her brother left the boardwalk near Pork Chop Geyser on June 7 when he reached down to check the water temperature but accidentally “slipped and fell” into the scalding pool.

His body was later recovered by authorities when it was discovered floating on the surface of the pool

Sable was recording the haunting moment on her phone, and due to the graphic nature of the footage, authorities refused to release or even describe the contents of the clip.

Deputy Chief Ranger Lorant Veress called the area where the accident happened – the Norris Geyser basin – “very dangerous” as it contains boiling acidic waters. He also added that there is a closure in place to prevent people from soaking in the pools for their own safety as well as to protect the park’s resources.

But it was reported by the Daily Mail that both Colin and Sable “left the boardwalk and walked several hundred feet up a hill.”

“They were specifically moving in that area for a place that they could potentially get into and soak. I think they call it Hot Potting,” Veress added.

The temperatures of the spring have been recorded to hit up to 400 degrees, which can be hot enough to dissolve flesh. It was later confirmed by the ranger that: “There was a significant amount of dissolving” when the body was analyzed.

As per the official Yellowstone website, “more than 20 people have been killed in the past by some of Yellowstone’s 10,000 geothermal pools, geysers, mudpots, steam vents and hot springs.”

However, officials for the park also stated that “you should keep in mind how many visitors the park gets” per year, which can see numbers up to four million.

Tourists standing on a boardwalk at the edge of the Abyss Pool at West Thumb Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park. Credit: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty

Prior to Scott’s death, on July 31, 2022, a California man died after he entered the Abyss hot springs pool at Yellowstone Lake’s West Thumb Geyser Basin. He was not discovered until days later when a shoe and part of a foot were found floating in the 140-degree hot spring.

It was later confirmed that 70-year-old Il Hun Ro was the victim thanks to DNA testing.

Our thoughts are with Scott’s family during this difficult time.

If you plan on visiting the park, please do familiarize yourself with the guidelines before embarking on your journey.