A smartphone recorded the moment he slipped 😳

Yellowstone National Park, one of America’s most breathtaking natural wonders, is home to stunning landscapes, wildlife, and mesmerizing geothermal features. However, beneath its beauty lies a deadly danger — boiling hot springs that can reach scalding, even fatal, temperatures.

In 2016, **Colin Scott**, a 23-year-old from Portland, Oregon, tragically lost his life after attempting an illegal and dangerous act known as *“hot potting”* — bathing in a thermal spring. Colin and his sister, **Sable Scott**, had ventured off the designated boardwalk near the Norris Geyser Basin, an area clearly marked with warnings prohibiting entry. According to park officials, the siblings were deliberately looking for a spot to soak in the hot springs, unaware of the deadly risk that lay beneath the surface.

While recording their adventure on a smartphone, Sable captured the horrifying moment her brother slipped and fell into the steaming pool after testing the water’s temperature with his finger. With no cellphone service in the area, she rushed back to a nearby building to seek help, but it was already too late.

Rescue teams later found Colin’s body floating in the hot spring. However, a sudden thunderstorm forced them to delay recovery efforts. When rangers returned the next morning, they discovered that his body had completely dissolved due to the extreme acidity and temperature of the water — leaving behind only his wallet and flip-flops.

Deputy Chief Ranger **Lorant Veress** later wrote that the conditions that day were “especially acidic,” causing the body to disintegrate rapidly. Yellowstone’s thermal pools can reach surface temperatures of around **199°F (93°C)** — and are much hotter beneath — making them among the most dangerous natural features in the park.

The National Park Service continues to issue strong warnings: visitors must stay on designated boardwalks and trails at all times. Hot springs have caused more injuries and deaths in Yellowstone than any other natural hazard.

Colin Scott’s tragic death serves as a haunting reminder of the unforgiving power of nature — and the importance of respecting its boundaries.