The tragic final moments of a man dissolving in acid at Yellowstone National Park were recorded.
Colin Scott of Portland, Oregon, visited the national park with his sister Sable in June 2016.
The 23-year-old and his sibling reportedly hiked through a prohibited area with warning signs as they searched for a place to ‘hot pot’ – the illegal practice of swimming in one of the park’s thermal pools.
Devastatingly, Colin’s sister captured his fatal fall into the hot spring on camera.
Yellowstone National Park spans 2.2 million acres, offering visitors a rare glimpse into a thriving, untouched ecosystem. Each year, an estimated three million people explore its breathtaking landscapes.
However, beneath its beauty lies significant danger.
Colin and his sister, who documented their adventure, ventured into a restricted area of the park.
According to The Guardian, she filmed the 23-year-old deliberately stepping off the boardwalk at Norris Geyser Basin as they searched for a spot to go ‘hot potting.’
Eventually, they reached a hot spring near Porkchop Geyser, NBC News reports.
Tragically, Colin lost his footing and fell into the scalding blue waters, where he was instantly boiled alive.
A report on the incident states: “The smartphone recorded the moment he slipped and fell into the pool, as well as her attempts to rescue him.”
Sable captured the horrifying moment on video, showing her desperate but unsuccessful efforts to save her brother.
With no cell signal, she was forced to leave the site to seek help. She eventually found assistance at a nearby museum and returned with park officials. Tragically, by the time they arrived, it was too late.
Officials reportedly discovered remnants of Colin’s head, upper torso, and hands in the scorching hot spring.
In an incident report, U.S. park ranger Phil Strehle noted that a V-neck shirt was identifiable, and a cross necklace appeared to be resting on Colin’s face.
Rescuers were unable to recover Colin’s body due to an approaching storm and the ‘volatile’ thermal area.
When officials returned the next day, his remains were no longer visible.
The incident report states: “The consensus among the rescue/recovery team… was that the extreme heat of the hot spring, coupled with its acidic nature, dissolved the remains.”
It’s believed the 23-year-old’s body dissolved overnight, with the only evidence that he was ever there being a wallet and a pair of flip-flops.
Although Colin’s heartbreaking final moments were recorded, the video and description of its content have never been released out of respect for his family. Authorities have reportedly secured the final footage.
