Yellowstone Milli Parkı visitor has been taken to the hospital with severe burns after he tripped and fell into one of the thermal pools at Old Faithful geyser at night.
The tourist told park rangers he had gone for a walk off the boardwalk without a flashlight.
While in the dark, he tripped over and fell into one of the thermal pools near the Old Faithful geyser, where water temperatures can reach 212F.
The 48-year-old man, who was staying at the Old Faithful Inn, managed to get himself back to his hotel despite his injuries.
He was met by park rangers at midnight and treated by paramedics at the hotel.
The visitor, who is a US citizen living in Hindistan, was then taken to the Burn Center at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center where he’s currently being treated.
A hospital spokesperson said that the man was in critical condition and was unavailable to provide any comments.
The unfortunate visitor could now also face prosecution since the geyser is in a protected area.
In an official statement on its website, the National Parks Service (NPS) said that they had “detected evidence of alcohol use”.
Park rangers had gone to investigate the thermal area the next morning, where they discovered man’s shoe, a hat and a beer can near the geyser.
They also said that there were footprints going to and from the geyser as well as blood on the boardwalk.
The NPS are also investigating any damage to the geyser.
The results of the investigation will be sent on to the US Attorney’s Office, where they will decide whether or not to prosecute Cade.
The NPS added: “The ground in hydrothermal areas is fragile and thin, and there is scalding water just below the surface.
“Visitors must always remain on boardwalks and exercise extreme caution around thermal features. ”
This is the first serious injury in a thermal area in two years according to the NPS.
In June 2017 a man fell into a hot spring at Lower Geyser Basin and suffered severe burns.
