PSA: Maybe not attempt "hot potting" in Yellowstone National Park

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On 7th June 2016, Psychology graduate Colin Scott and his sister Sable were travelling through a prohibited area of Yellowstone National Park, with the intent to partake in "hot potting" within one of Yellowstone's thermal pools. The day ended in tragedy

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Sable filmed herself and her brother via a smartphone deviating from the boardwalk path when they came across one of the hot pools.[1][2][3][4] Colin kneeled down to examine the temperature of the spring when he suddenly slipped and fell into it.[1][4][3][2] Under normal circumstances, water temperatures at Norris Geyser reach around 93C/199F.[2] With his sister unable to rescue him, with her also suffering minor injuries in the process,

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When officials reached the spring, they found remains of Scott's head, upper torso, and hands.[1][2][3] However, they were unable to recover these remains because the spring was now at 100C/212F, with a lightning storm also being forecast.[2][1][3] The next morning, officials returned to the spring, but by that point the acidic pool had completely dissolved Scott's body.[1][2][3][4] All that remained were a few personal belongings, including his wallet and flip-flops

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As detailed in an Incident Report released under a Freedom of Information request, Sable had filmed the entire incident.[1][3][2][4] While the transcription of the video has been censored, it is known that the video included the pair intentionally walking off the boardwalk, Scott slipping into the spring, and his sister's attempts to rescue him.[1][2][3][4] Due to the video's disturbing nature, as well as out of respect to Scott and his relatives, park officials will not publicly release the footage.[

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