Man falls into Old Faithful, suffers severe burns
On Sept. 29, Cade Edmond Siemers, 48, a tourist staying at
the Old Faithful Inn took a little midnight stroll around park features in
close proximity to the lodging, using a flashlight to break up the darkness.
However, the device was used in vain when Siemers tripped into a hot spring
near the cone of Old Faithful Geyser. He was rushed to the Burn Center at
Eastern Idaho Medical Center, remaining in critical condition until Monday
evening. Straying from boardwalks around the world-famous hot springs is
illegal, punishable by up to six months in prison and a $5,000 fine. Park
rangers discovered evidence of alcohol use in Siemers room at the inn, and
found his shoe, hat and a beer can near the geyser, along with his blood on the
boardwalk. More than 35 parkgoers have been cited for leaving the park’s geyser
boardwalks this year alone, and 22 have died in hot spring related incidents
since 1890.