On Monday, September 16, a 60-year-old tourist was taken via helicopter to a hospital after suffering second and third-degree burns while trespassing into a thermal area in Yellowstone National Park.

"The woman was walking off trail with her husband and leashed dog in a thermal area when she broke through a thin crust over scalding water and suffered burns to her leg. The husband and dog were not injured," said the National Parks Service (NPS) in a press release.

She was transferred to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for further treatment. There have been no additional updates on her condition.

The NPS continues to remind park visitors to stay on the designated paths along the boardwalks and trails. "The ground in these areas is fragile and thin, and there is scalding water just below the surface," reiterated the parks service. In fact, they have an entire guide about safety in thermal areas.

This is the first known thermal injury in Yellowstone in 2024. 

This incident is under investigation, and officials at Yellowstone have no additional information to share.