A 17-year-old boy suffered severe burns to his foot and ankle while hiking near Lone Star Geyser in Yellowstone National Park on Monday. The ground beneath him, a thin crust over hot water, gave way, causing his foot to come into contact with scalding water. Emergency responders quickly transported him to a hospital for treatment, though officials have not yet provided an update on his condition.
Yellowstone officials remind all visitors to stay on designated boardwalks and trails in thermal areas to avoid similar injuries. The fragile crust in these zones can easily break, resulting in serious or even fatal burns. Other safety precautions include not touching thermal features or runoff, avoiding swimming or soaking in hot springs, keeping pets out of thermal areas, and not throwing objects into hot springs. Visitors are also warned that toxic gases can accumulate in some areas, and anyone feeling unwell should leave immediately. This incident marks the first thermal injury reported in Yellowstone in 2025. Previously, a woman suffered severe burns after leaving the trail last September, and in July, a bison died after falling into a hot spring.