23-Year-Old Oregon Native Fell Into Yellowstone Hot Spring and Got Dissolved in It

A pair of siblings, in their pursuit of hot potting, got themselves into a disaster, that caused one of them to lose their life. Colin Nathaniel Scott, an Oregon native visited the Yellowstone park in 2016, along with his sister, IFL Science reported. The pair's ignorance towards warning signs put up in the area got them into a life-threatening mess. The pair reportedly walked off the main boardwalk near the Pork Chop Geyser, looking for a place to go dipping. The pair found a pool, and Scott slipped and fell into it, vanishing from his sister's sight forever. 

Danger of Yellowstone Hot Spring

Park authorities routinely warn visitors about the threat of Yellowstone Hot Springs, Outside Magazine reported. As per the data available from the National Park Service, at least 22 people have died in the hydrothermal springs in Yellowstone Park, which is three times more than the deaths caused by the bears in the same park.

USGS has labeled the hot springs "Yellowstone’s gravest threat to visitors." The park officials have put in place designated trails and boardwalks, to ensure that no individual falls prey to the hell that is inside these 350°F hot springs.

Colin Nathaniel Scott's Death

Scott, who was 23 years old, went in to check its temperature, IFL Science reported. "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,” said Deputy Chief Ranger Lorant Veress. Hot Potting is considered an illegal practice of swimming in one of the thermal areas in the parks, The Guardian reported.

While examining the temperature, he reportedly slipped and went into the acidic pool. Park officials were called to the scene, and found his body as well as his wallet and flip-flops floating on the water. They tried to retrieve his body, but the massive distance along with the burgeoning thunderstorm proved to be major hurdles. The team decided to return the next day.

Scott's Body Vanishes

The officials returned the following day and nothing of his body remained in the waters, The Guardian reported. "The consensus among the rescue/recovery team … was that the extreme heat of the hot spring, coupled with its acidic nature, dissolved the remains," a report regarding the incident said. They were able to recover the victim's flip-flops and wallet, but could not find any remains.

"In a very short order," Veress added, "there was a significant amount of dissolving," IFL Science reported. Scott's sister reportedly recorded a video of him falling into the pool, and her efforts to rescue him. Officials did not release the video clips, out of respect for the deceased.