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Yellowstone Visitor Who Suffered Severe Thermal Burns Rescuing Dog Still in Coma

Yellowstone National Park visitor Laiha Slayton is reportedly remaining in a coma after she suffered from thermal burns jumping into a geyser to save her puppy.

According to Yellowstone National Park officials, the incident occurred in the vicinity of Fountain Flat Drive south of Madison Junction. When she and her father got out of their vehicle to look around, Slayton’s dog jumped out of the car and went to Maiden’s Grave Springs near the Firehole River.

Slayton went into the thermal hot springs to retrieve the dog and her father pulled out of the feature. The duo and dog then drove to West Yellowstone, Montana. Yellowstone National Park rangers and Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District provided initial care to the woman at West Yellowstone. The 20-year-old woman was transported to the Burn Center at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

The DailyMail reported that that the 20-year-old woman was put into a medically-induced coma after the incident occurred on October 4th at Maiden’s Grave Spring inside Yellowstone National Park. Slayton also had four surgeries to treat her burns, remove dead skin and replace it with donor cadaver skin. Her dog, unfortunately, passed away from its injuries.

Yellowstone National Park officials also state that the incident is under investigation and the park has no additional information to share. Slayton, however, will reportedly remain at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho City. She will have a few more surgeries to remove her dead skin and replace it with donor cadaver skin. 

Sister of the Yellowstone Thermal Burn Victim Provides an Update about the Injuries

While speaking with DailyMail, Slayton’s sister Kamilla stated she has not been able to sister since the incident at Yellowstone happened. This is due to the hospital currently allowing parents visitation privileges. This is to help prevent infection.

Kamilla told the media outlet that the process has been difficult for the Slayton Family. She also revealed her father is expected to make a full recovery from his injuries. “My dad is doing good. He only suffered from blisters on his left foot when his foot slipped in. He is treating them with antibiotics and some other medicine, but he will be completely fine.”

Kamilla then shared that a GoFundMe for her sister has been set up to help the family with medical expenses. The campaign has so far raised more than $58,000 from over 1,200 donors. 

Kamilla said that her father “acted on instinct and adrenaline” to save his daughter’s life. “He heard the puppy screaming for its life with every bit of air it had in its lungs then watched his daughter nearly kill herself to save her dog, then injured himself while rescuing her.”

Her father also went to the vet before going to the hospital because he knew how close his daughter was to the dog. Slayton does not know her dog didn’t survive the incident.