A visit to one of America’s most breathtaking national parks turned into an unimaginable tragedy when a man, attempting to soak in the naturally heated waters, fell into a scalding hot spring and was completely dissolved within a single day.
Yellowstone National Park, known for its stunning landscapes, bubbling geysers, and breathtaking wildlife, is one of the most visited national parks in the United States. But beneath its beauty lies a dangerous reality—boiling hot springs that reach extreme temperatures, capable of erasing any trace of human life within hours.
One such tragedy unfolded when 23-year-old Colin Scott, a visitor from Portland, Oregon, ventured off the designated boardwalk with his sister in June 2016. Their goal was to engage in a risky activity known as “hot potting,” a term used for soaking in natural geothermal pools. But what was meant to be an adventurous outing turned into a fatal miscalculation.
Colin and his sister had been exploring a restricted area of the park, searching for the perfect pool to soak in. Despite multiple warning signs posted throughout the geothermal region, they continued past the safety barriers, unaware of the deadly forces lurking beneath the surface.
The moment of horror was captured on video. Colin’s sister, who had been recording their adventure on her phone, unintentionally filmed the exact moment he lost his footing, slipped, and fell into the scalding, acidic waters of a hot spring.
As soon as Colin hit the surface, his sister desperately tried to pull him out, but the boiling temperatures made any rescue attempt impossible. With no cell service in the area, she ran to a nearby museum to frantically alert park rangers. But by the time help arrived, it was already too late.
Park officials later confirmed that the thermal pools in Yellowstone can reach or exceed 199 degrees Fahrenheit (93°C), hot enough to cause immediate, irreversible burns and destroy human tissue within minutes.
When rangers arrived at the scene, Colin’s upper body, head, and arms were still visible in the pool, floating in the deep blue waters. But the extreme heat and the highly acidic composition of the spring meant that retrieving his body was nearly impossible.
Then, nature took its course.
A lightning storm forced park officials to temporarily abandon the recovery efforts. When they returned the following morning, Colin’s body was gone.
His wallet and flip-flops were all that remained.
Unlike regular water, the hot springs at Yellowstone aren’t just dangerously hot—they are also highly acidic due to the park’s volcanic activity.
Deputy Chief Ranger Lorant Veress explained that the combination of scalding temperatures and extreme acidity led to Colin’s rapid dissolution.
“In a very short order, there was a significant amount of dissolving,” he stated.
According to park spokesperson Charissa Reid, rangers were able to retrieve a few of Colin’s personal belongings, but there were no human remains left to recover.
Yellowstone is home to thousands of hydrothermal features, including geysers, mud pots, and hot springs. While the pools may look inviting, they can be deadly traps. Some appear deceptively cool, but in reality, they are far hotter than boiling water.
Experts warn that even brief exposure to these pools can be fatal.
“There’s a big difference between warm springs and hot springs, and you can’t necessarily tell the difference just by looking,” Veress explained.
The park has strict regulations in place to protect visitors from these dangers, with clear signs warning them to stay on the boardwalks and avoid direct contact with geothermal pools.
Despite these warnings, incidents continue to occur, often with devastating consequences. Colin’s tragic death serves as a sobering reminder of just how unforgiving Yellowstone’s hot springs can be.