Photo: MARK RALSTON / AFP / Getty Images
A 17-year-old boy suffered serious burns when his foot broke through the ground near a geyser close to Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park on Monday (July 28). According to the National Park Service, the incident occurred in the thermal area near the Lone Star Geyser, about five miles from Old Faithful. The teen was hiking in the area when his foot broke through the thin crust, resulting in burns to his foot and ankle. Emergency medical staff treated him on-site before transporting him to a hospital. This marks the first reported thermal injury in Yellowstone this year.
Park officials have repeatedly warned visitors about the dangers of straying from marked paths and boardwalks, which protect both visitors and the delicate thermal formations. More than 20 people have died from burns after entering or falling into Yellowstone's hot springs. The park service emphasized that scalding water lies just beneath the thin, breakable crust around these hot springs, posing severe risks. In 2016, a man died after falling into a hot spring while checking its temperature.
The park service continues to remind visitors to stay on designated paths to avoid serious injuries or fatalities. Pets are also prohibited in thermal areas to prevent similar incidents. This incident follows a series of other injuries in the park, including bison attacks earlier this year.