What would an adult male look like to soak in a hot tub at 87°C for two months?
Recently, a tragic incident in Rotorua, New Zealand, sent chills down the shoulders of many people who love hot springs.
01
The 26-year-old man is suspected of having fallen into a hot tub
Just returned to New Zealand from Australia
At around 5:30 p.m. on 13 February, New Zealand police received a call from a person who said they had heard someone falling into a hot tub in the geothermal reserve in Rotorua.
The person who called the police said that he couldn't see whether there was anyone inside at that time, so he chose to call the police.
Police quickly zeroed in on a missing man from Rotorua, Matt, 26.
He had lived in Australia for many years before returning to New Zealand last year and moving to Rotorua.
According to Matt's family, he hadn't been to the area before.
The pool, located in a fenced area of the Rotorua Geothermal Reserve, has a gate that says "Danger! No Entry".
The surface temperature of the pool is as high as 85°C, and at a depth of one metre it reaches 87°C. "It's almost boiling water. ”
The police immediately launched a search and rescue operation, but two months later, Matt is still alive and dead.
Since his disappearance on 13 February, his bank account has not been moved.
Easter recently was Matt's 26th birthday, and it was especially difficult for his family.
Matt's older sister, Dawn, said her brother's disappearance was an "incredible and heartbreaking moment" for everyone in the family.
In the past few weeks, some of Matt's family and friends have arrived from Australia, and some have placed flowers next to the hot tub to commemorate him.
"We wish we had the opportunity to say goodbye to him, or just tell him how much we love and how much we miss. He has a beautiful heart, and there is not a day that we do not think of him. Dawn said.
02
Search and rescue are fraught with difficulties
The body is missing
Why haven't the police found Matt after two months, and there's not even a trace of his belongings?
The reason is that the accident site is relatively special, and the search and rescue is very difficult.
Due to the high temperatures, ordinary underwater search equipment could not be used, so it had to be procured from overseas urgently.
Geological and nuclear science workers advised search and rescue teams to proceed with caution as their actions could trigger a nearby geothermal eruption.
Phil Gillbanks, the superintendent of the search and rescue operation, said the search and rescue team had completed three searches so far with the cameras in custom-made boxes that could withstand high temperatures.
Six staff members tied multiple ropes to the box, enclosed it at a safe distance around the hot tub, and lowered the box into the pool to capture underwater images.
Search and rescue personnel must also be tied to other people or metal poles to ensure their own safety.
"It's a really difficult area to navigate, it's high and low, and if you get too close, sometimes you suddenly have hot water running under your feet. Gillbanks said.
Even so, the police did not find any trace of Matt, including clothing and shoes. And since this is a geothermal hot spring, the DNZ match may not be accurate.
Police are now trying other ways to find Matt's whereabouts.
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Similar cases occur from time to time
Someone's bones are "dissolved"
Rotorua is a particularly geothermal region, and local residents can even experience geothermal eruptions at home.
When geothermal activity occurs, it looks like a small active volcano is no different, but it is very dangerous.
As a result, the Rotorua area is full of hot springs, with some of the hot springs that have been developed to be suitable for the human body, and some people who like to find "wild hot springs" in different directions.
But it is often these wild hot springs that are "close to nature" that contain infinite killing opportunities.
The search for Matt led Dave Donaldson, a retired former police officer in Rotorua and former deputy mayor of Rotorua, to recall another similar case he was involved in when he was younger.
It was in 1980, the incident also caused the disappearance of a 27-year-old man in Rotorua, and after a city-wide search, police found some of the missing people's belongings near a hot pool.
At that time, the police tried to empty the water in the hot pool, but found that the large pool was open and could not be pumped at all, and the hot water also caused the pumping equipment to be deformed.
After using an excavator, the remains of the missing man and his watch were recovered.
News report at the time Source: NZ Herald
Donaldson noted that it's understandable that families want to find their loved ones urgently, but that geothermal "is very different, it's very destructive." ”
Almost every year, someone dies in Rotorua's thermal pools.
In 2010, an 8-year-old boy fell into the hot tub of Kuirau Park in Rotorua, suffering 95% burns all over his body.
In 2015, the body of a 67-year-old man was found floating in a hot pool.
In 2020, a man died in a hot mud pool in Rotorua.
Previously, there were people who took photos on the edge of the hot tub and were posted on the Internet to expose them, and accidentally fell into the water, and the consequences were unimaginable.
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Beware of the world's deadly hot springs
Take safety tips
These accidents are also a wake-up call for tourists.
In addition to these hot springs, there are also some deadly hot springs around the world, although they are beautiful and extraordinary, but they all hide murderous motives, everyone must be careful, do not risk yourself!
新西兰"香槟池"(Champagne Pool)
Champagne pools are also a well-known attraction in Rotorua's Waiotapu geothermal area. Its name comes from the fact that a large amount of carbon dioxide is released, like the bubbles of champagne in a glass.
The geothermal water temperature in the deep underground of the pool reaches 260°C, but the water temperature in the pool is maintained at 73°C to 75°C due to the heat dissipated into the air.
新西兰“煎锅湖”（Frying Pan Lake）
The lake is the largest hot spring in the world, with a temperature of 50 to 60 degrees Celsius, and some areas of the water will become alkaline due to the boiling of the hot springs, with a pH of 8.2 to 8.7.
As the name suggests, the lake can be "fried" if accidentally dropped.
Oyunuma, Hokkaido, Japan
The water temperature is usually maintained at around 60 degrees Celsius, so there are fenced walkways near the hot lake to ensure the safety of visitors.
Grand Prism Hot Springs in Yellowstone, USA
The colors are as brilliant as a rainbow, and it is also called the big rainbow hot spring.
But the reason for the pure blue hue of the hot springs is that the temperature is so high that no microorganisms, let alone humans, can grow.
Havel geothermal area in Iceland
Mud ponds are acidic hot springs where a sticky mud is produced due to limited water volume, microorganisms decompose, and rocks and clay are present around it.
The "Blood Pool Hell" in Beppu, Japan
The bubbling water of the 70 degrees Celsius makes it haunt with horrific memories of torture and death.
Santa Ana Crater Lake in El Salvador
Also called sulfur lake. Hikers know that once they smell the sulfur wafting from the lake, they are close to the sulfur lake at the top of the mountain.
Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park in Nagano, Japan
The hot springs above are all classified as deadly due to their high temperatures or corrosiveness, but here they are because of the monkeys.
First, as wild animals, these monkeys have an unpredictable temperament and may show aggression when they feel threatened.
Second, monkey feces are discharged into the water at will, do you dare to soak such sewage?
Finally, for friends who plan to soak in hot springs, Discovery Jun has prepared the following safety tips:
- Choose hot spring spots where temperature, minerals, and pH have been tested and are suitable for the human body.
- Do not swim alone and keep an eye out for children and pets.
- Whether it's a spa or a spa, don't dive your head into the water.
- Drink water in time to rehydrate.
- Get up slowly after soaking in the hot springs, and if you feel dizzy, you can sit or lie down and elevate your legs.
- Follow signage and do not leave the trail or enter restricted areas.