A park with an acidic spring has been described as not ‘secure’ by a spokesperson, after a man fell in and was boiled alive.
When you think about the most horrific and painful ways to die, being scolded in a burning pool of acid has to be up there.
And this is what caused the tragic death of Colin Scott, 23, who was visiting the Porkchop Geyser in Yellowstone National Park in the US with his sister Sable.
The pair were hiking, and ignored warning signs telling them not to continue to a specific area of the park.
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Sable was videoing her brother when the fatality occurred.
He fell and slipped into the scorching water, where his body was boiled alive before the acidic waters caused it to dissolve, leaving just his shoes and wallet intact.
Her desperate attempt to save him was also filmed, but it is a video that only the police have access to.
Sable ran to a nearby museum and pleaded with them to help her, but by the time she arrived with several rangers, it was clear that it was too late to save colin.
They could see portions of Colin's head, torso and hands floating in the hot spring, which is said to have reached 100 degrees celsius - boiling point.
The police report from 2016 states: “Due to the report of the individual not previously visible, a lack of movement, suspected extreme temperatures, and indications of several thermal burns, the subject was determined to be deceased."
Due to a storm that was imminent, they were unable to retrieve his body straight away.
However, when they returned the next day, they believed that his body had dissolved overnight.
The report continued: “The consensus among the rescue/recovery team … was that the extreme heat of the hot spring, coupled with its acidic nature, dissolved the remains.”
Park spokeswoman, Charissa Reid, said that there had been 22 known deaths related to thermal features in Yellowstone since 1890.
Hazardous conditions in the area forced the rescue teams to take extra care when treading on the ground.
Reid said that rock and mineral deposits in some places can be fairly thick, but in other places can be just a thin sheet with hot water below.
She claimed ‘it wasn’t a very secure site’.
Reid also reminded tourists that the park's regulations were in place for a reason.
Topics: US News
Mia Williams