A 20-year-old woman was left in a medically induced coma after she suffered 90 percent burns while trying to save her puppy from a hot spring.
Laiha Slayton from Tacoma, Washington, was visiting Yellowstone National Park with her father Woodrow when the incident happened.
Their two Shih Tzus, Chevy and Rusty, were running around while Laila was searching for their leashes in the vehicle.
But Rusty suddenly got one of his paws burned by a small leak from a geyser. The pooch panicked and fell into the spring while Woodrow was trying to control Chevy.
Laiha did not think twice when she jumped into the hot spring, which can reach up to 190F, to rescue her beloved puppy. She was later rescued by her father.
The young woman suffered third-degree burns to her body and was airlifted to the burn unit at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, park officials said.
Woodrow also suffered burns to his body and needed treatment. One-year-old Rusty was rushed to a veterinarian but later died.
According to a GoFundMe page set up by Laiha’s sister to pay for her medical expenses, she is currently in a medically-induced coma.
Kamilla, who says that her sister will have to undergo more surgeries, said that her palms are also ‘completely gone.’
As of this writing, the GoFundMe page had raised $22,603 out of its $45,000 goal to pay for medical bills and cremation services for Rusty.
Yellowstone National Park officials also posted about the incident on Facebook, writing: “The ground in hydrothermal areas is fragile and thin, and there is scalding water just below the surface. Everyone must remain on boardwalks and trails and exercise extreme caution around thermal features.
“While in the park, protect your pets by physically controlling them at all times. Pets must be in a car, crate or on a leash no more than six feet long. They are not allowed on boardwalks, hiking trails, in the backcountry, or in thermal areas.”
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