Tourist suffers severe burns after falling into scalding water near Old Faithful

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News & Features
Man Falls into Yellowstone Hot Spring, Severely Burned
Cade Edmond Siemers told rangers he was walking near Old Faithful Geyser without a flashlight when he tripped
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS // SEP 30, 2019

Flathead Beacon
BILLINGS — A Yellowstone National Park visitor has been hospitalized with severe burns after falling into thermal water at Old Faithful Geyser.

Park spokeswoman Morgan Warthin said Cade Edmond Siemers told rangers he was walking near the famous geyser late Sunday night without a flashlight when he tripped into a hot spring.

Siemers was taken by ambulance to West Yellowstone and airlifted to a burn center in Idaho Falls. He could not be reached for comment.

A hospital representative said Monday that Siemers was in the intensive care unit, but declined to release further details. ... It is illegal to leave the boardwalks around Old Faithful, punishable by up to six months in prison and a $5,000 fine. ... In 2016, an Oregon man died after falling into a Yellowstone hot spring.

That page linked to this next article. I've never heard of the Missoula Current before.

Tourist suffers severe burns after falling into scalding water near Old Faithful
BY YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK SEPTEMBER 30, 2019

Late on Sunday, September 29, Cade Edmond Siemers, a 48-year-old U.S. citizen currently living in India, suffered severe burns to a significant portion of his body after falling into thermal water near the cone of Old Faithful Geyser.

Rangers and paramedics responded to the Old Faithful Inn at midnight where Siemers was staying. He told rangers that he had gone for a walk off boardwalk without a flashlight and tripped into a hot spring. He got himself back to his hotel room and called for assistance. Rangers detected evidence of alcohol use.

Siemers was taken by ambulance to West Yellowstone Airport and then flown by fixed-wing plane to Idaho Falls. Bad weather conditions prohibited the use of a life flight helicopter at Old Faithful. He was admitted to the Burn Center at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

Since rangers were not at the scene of the incident last night, they went out at first light this morning to investigate in the thermal area. They discovered several items near the geyser (the man’s shoe, hat, and a beer can), footprints going to and from the geyser, and blood on the boardwalk.
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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. Learn more about safety in thermal areas at go.nps.gov/yellsafety .
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