Man severely burned after falling into Yellowstone Hot Spring.

[Stuart G]

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/14/us/yellowstone-hot-spring-burns-north-carolina-man/index.html

NOTE:...he is from North Carolina...not Florida
___________________________________________________________________________________

CNN) — A 21-year-old man from North Carolina suffered severe burns late Tuesday when he fell into a hot spring at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.

Gervais Dylan Gatete from Raleigh was with seven other people when he was burned in the Lower Geyser Basin north of the Old Faithful area, a spokeswoman for the park said Wednesday in a written statement.

Investigators are trying to determine how Gatete fell in.

"Yellowstone's thermal features are dangerous," Superintendent Dan Wenk said. The park's statement explains the ground in the area is fragile, with scalding water just below the surface.

Hot springs have killed or injured more people than other natural features at Yellowstone.

"Stay on boardwalks and trails in thermal areas," the park warns.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Now I have been to the area where this fellow fell in. It is impossible to fall in, if you stay on the boardwalks as you walk around. The boardwalks are sturdy wood and a person very unlikely to slip and fall in if one stays on the boardwalk.. To get that close, someone would have to get off the boardwalk. That is not smart. My guess is the fellow got off the boardwalk to get a closer look, or maybe to take a picture. Not smart, but he was from North Carolina, not that other state.. Also, his group tried to take him to the hospital, but eventually contacted the rangers for help, and then the rangers got him to the airport. To me, that means that the group knew he had done something very stupid, and wanted to take care of this person without help from the rangers..Like keep it a secret. you know what I am talking about..

[greymattermom]

1. This seems to happen every year

Maybe they need to put up more fences.

[Stuart G]

2. You are correct, but..if you put up more fences,..then....

there will be idiots that climb over the fence in order to get closer. That is who these people are. Stupid Idiots......???

[TBA]

3. Also I am told what looks like solid ground often isn't.

I've been there too. The beauty draws you in but no way would I step off those boardwalks!

[lunasun]

4. Every year like clock work someone who wants to not obey the rules gets burned

[liberal N proud]

5. There are ample warning signs throughout the geyser areas

The most dangerous areas have hand rails to protect people. To fall in, one would had to climb on top of or go around those safety features.

People see barriers such as safety railings and road blocks as optional.

[MichMary]

6. What's the saying?

"No one ever went broke betting on the stupidity of the American people."

Not so long ago there was a story in the news about someone who wanted to swim with the polar bears at the zoo, or something.

Darwin Awards exist for a reason.

[Stuart G]

7. Yes,,,lots of stupid people here, but lots of smart people here too..

Lots of medium types here too....got to say this...lots and lots of people here...about 330,000,000..??

and some like the fellow who fell into the hot spring, think they know more than those that really do know a whole lot about a particular problem or subject.. ...Stay on the boardwalk in the area of small hot springs and lakes..means....
..................................STAY ON THE BOARDWALK.....DON'T LEAVE THE WOODEN WALK......

NOW...some that visit Yellowstone Park..are ok with that.
But.....some don't think those directions are for them......"I will do what I want to do"..they think...they tell people that to keep them in line..it is not a real direction..." these people think..

.I saw one of these people once...who caused a lot of problems for a national park...but later on that story....I will put that one up here, later today. I looked her in the eye..there was pure stupidity there.......yes..later with that personal story of a very stupid person in a national park...